The Israel national football team has participated in three different continents: Asia, Oceania, before finally settling for Europe as a full member of UEFA. The Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded in 1928, 20 years before the creation of the state of Israel. IFA was accepted as a full member to FIFA in 1929. IFA first dealt with local leagues, but later also managed the national team that was created to participate in the World Cup qualifications (participated in 1934, 1938 as Palestine/Eretz Israel national team).
Israel played its first official game in 1934 in the world cup qualifiers losing 1-7 to Egypt. The team's first goal ever was scored by Avraham Nudelmann . Upon creation of the State of Israel in 1948, IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first game as an independent state was on September 26, 1948, against the USA (result: 1-3 in favor of the USA).
In 1964 Israel hosted the Asian Nations Cup and won 2-1 against South Korea. In 1968 Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria on a coin toss in the quarterfinals. In 1970 Israel qualified for their first and only World Cup in Mexico, but only got two points after draws with Sweden and finalist Italy and a loss to Uruguay. In 1976 Israel went to their second Olympic Games and lost in the quarterfinals again, this time against Brazil. In 1990 Israel made it to the playoffs of WC Italy 1990 from the top of the Oceania group, to play against Colombia who qualified from the South American group, but was denied. (1-0, 0-0). In 2000, Israel made it to the playoffs of Euro 2000, but was beaten by Denmark.
The Israeli national football team is in Group 4 against France, Ireland, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, and Cyprus in the qualification stages for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
World Cup record
- 1930 - Did not enter
- 1934 - Did not qualify (as Palestine/Eretz Israel)
- 1938 - Did not qualify (as Palestine/Eretz Israel)
- 1950 to 1966 - Did not qualify
- 1970 - Round 1
- 1974 to 2002 - Did not qualify
Asian Nations Cup record
- 1956 - Second place
- 1960 - Second place
- 1964 - Champions
- 1968 - Third place
- 1972 onwards - Did not enter, no longer member of AFC
European Championship record
Famous players
- Tal Ben-Haim
- Yossi Benayoun
- Eyal Berkovic
- Avi Cohen
- Gidi Damti
- Shye Glazer
- Yehosua (Shye) Figenboim
- Yaakov Hudrob
- Ori Malmilian
- Alon Mizrahi
- Eli Ohana
- Avi Ran
- Haim Revivo
- Ronny Rosenthal
- Giora Speiegle
- Mordechai Spiegler
- Nahom Stelmach
- Yitzhak Shum
- Yitzhak Wisoker
Top Capped players
- Amir Shelah : 85
- Alon Harazi : 83
- Nir Klinger : 82
- Arik Benado : 81
Top Goalscorers
1. Mordechai Spiegler : 32
2. Yehosua (Shye) Figenboim : 24
3. Ronen Harazi : 23
4. Nahom Stelmach : 22
5. Gidi Damti : 21
6. Shye Glazer : 18
-. Giyora Spiegl : 18
8. Alon Mizrahi: 17
-. Eli Ohana : 17
