Israel at the FIFA World Cup
This is a record of the Israel national team's results at the FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for the tournament on one occasion, in 1970.[1] Israel qualified for the 1970 World Cup as an Asian team. Nowadays Israel competes in the European zone, as well as a full member of UEFA since the 1990s.[citation needed]
History[edit]
Both in 1934 and in 1938, Mandatory Palestine has competed in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[2][3] In 1970, Israel national football team has competed in the FIFA World Cup final-tournament, for the very first time. FIFA states in reference to this 1930s Palestine Mandate team that Asia's (AFC's) 'Palestine team' that had participated in previous competitions during the 1930s, was actually the forerunner of current Europe's (UEFA's) Israel national team; and as such bears no-relation to the national team of the Palestinian Authority whatsoever.[2] Therefore, the region currently referred to as Palestine (Israel) is confusingly considered "one of the first Asian teams to compete in the FIFA World Cup qualification".[3]
Record at the FIFA World Cup[edit]
Israel's FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Confederation | |
As {{fb|PAL|name=Mandatory Palestine | As ![]() | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | Did not qualify | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Africa/Asia | |||||||||
![]() | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Europe | ||||||||||
As ![]() | As ![]() | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Did not qualify | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Europe | |||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||
![]() | Play-off | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | CAF/AFC | ||||||||||
![]() | Final Round | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 14 | UEFA | ||||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | |||||||||||
![]() | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Squad | Final Round | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | AFC/OFC | |
![]() | Did not qualify | Zone A Final | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | ||||||||||
![]() | First round | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||
![]() | 5th | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | UEFA | ||||||||||
![]() | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | OFC | ||||||||||
![]() | Play-off | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||
![]() | 6th | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 27 | UEFA | ||||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | |||||||||||
![]() ![]() | 3rd | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 10 | |||||||||||
![]() | 4th | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 10 | |||||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 14 | |||||||||||
![]() | 4th | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 15 | |||||||||||
![]() | 3rd | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 21 | |||||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1/26 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out
By Match[edit]
World Cup | Round | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Group stage | ![]() | 0–2 | L | Puebla | — |
![]() | 1–1 | D | Toluca | M. Spiegler | ||
![]() | 0–0 | D | Toluca | — |
Record by Opponent[edit]
FIFA World Cup matches (by team) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opponent | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
1970 FIFA World Cup[edit]
At the 1970 FIFA World Cup, Israel participated for the first time. Israel qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1970, along with El Salvador and Morocco.[1]
Although it was reported in the build-up to the final draw that seedings would be used, as had been the case at the previous two World Cup Finals,[4][5] the FIFA Organising Committee ultimately announced that there would be no seeding of teams.[6] Instead, the sixteen teams were divided into four 'geographical groupings', which also took into account the teams' strengths and even political considerations;[7] the system ensured that Israel and Morocco would not be drawn to face each other after Morocco had earlier threatened to withdraw from the tournament, as they had done from the Olympic football tournament two years earlier,[8] if that were the case.[9]
1970 Qualifying Round[edit]
1970 Qualifying Round 1[edit]
During the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification Israel received a First round bye in the first round and moved directly to the Second round.
1970 Qualifying Round 2[edit]
In the second round, North Korea, quarter-finalists at the previous tournament, were disqualified after refusing to play in Israel for political reasons.[10][11]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 4 | Advance to Final round |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Qualification for 1970 FIFA World Cup |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 |
28 September 1969 | Israel ![]() | 4 – 0 | ![]() | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel[12] |
Spiegler ![]() Spiegel ![]() Feigenbaum ![]() | Referee: Nassiri (Iran) |
1 October 1969 | Israel ![]() | 2 – 0 | ![]() | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel[12] |
Spiegler ![]() Spiegel ![]() | Referee: Nassiri (Iran) |
1970 Qualifying Final Round[edit]
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Israel ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | 1–0 | 1–1 |
4 December 1969 | Israel ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
Zeman ![]() | Report | Referee: Ferdinand Marschall (Austria) |
14 December 1969 | Australia ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney |
Watkiss ![]() | ![]() | Referee: Ferdinand Marschall (Austria) |
1970 FIFA World Cup Group 2[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
3 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
4 | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Uruguay | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Israel |
|
|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sweden | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Israel |
|
|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Italy | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Israel |
|
|
|
Head coach: Emmanuel Scheffer
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Yitzchak Vissoker | 18 September 1944 (aged 25) | 17 | ![]() |
2 | DF | Shraga Bar | 24 March 1948 (aged 22) | 13 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Menachem Bello | 26 December 1947 (aged 22) | 25 | ![]() |
4 | MF | David Primo | 5 May 1946 (aged 24) | 18 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Zvi Rosen | 23 June 1947 (aged 22) | 16 | ![]() |
6 | DF | Shmuel Rosenthal | 22 April 1947 (aged 23) | 23 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Itzhak Shum | 1 September 1948 (aged 21) | 8 | ![]() |
8 | FW | Giora Spiegel | 27 July 1947 (aged 22) | 19 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Yehoshua Feigenbaum | 5 December 1947 (aged 22) | 15 | ![]() |
10 | FW | Mordechai Spiegler | 19 August 1944 (aged 25) | 36 | ![]() |
11 | MF | George Borba | 12 July 1944 (aged 25) | 10 | ![]() |
12 | MF | Yisha'ayahu Schwager | 10 February 1946 (aged 24) | 6 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Yechezekel Chazom | 1 January 1947 (aged 23) | 4 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Danny Shmulevich-Rom | 29 November 1940 (aged 29) | 24 | ![]() |
15 | FW | Rachamim Talbi | 17 May 1943 (aged 27) | 25 | ![]() |
16 | DF | Yochanan Vollach | 14 May 1945 (aged 25) | 4 | ![]() |
17 | FW | Eli Ben Rimoz | 1 January 1947 (aged 23) | 2 | ![]() |
18 | MF | Moshe Romano | 6 May 1946 (aged 24) | 6 | ![]() |
19 | MF | Roni Shuruk | 24 February 1946 (aged 24) | 8 | ![]() |
20 | DF | David Karako | 11 February 1945 (aged 25) | 6 | ![]() |
21 | GK | Yechiel Hameiri | 20 August 1946 (aged 23) | 1 | ![]() |
22 | GK | Yair Nossovsky | 29 June 1937 (aged 32) | 3 | ![]() |
Qualifier history[edit]
Through the 2014 qualifier, Israel has entered the qualifiers for the World Cup on 19 occasions. In 1934 and 1938 Palestine, under the British Mandate, competed. As Israel was established in place of Palestine in 1948, Israel began competing in 1950. In all years but 1970 Israel failed to qualify for the World Cup.
At the 1934 FIFA World Cup, Mandatory Palestine competed in the Africa and Asia Group 12 qualifying round.[13] Mandatory Palestine finished in second place and was eliminated.
The Palestine football team consisted of nine British footballers, six Jewish footballers and one Arab footballer.[14] FIFA states in reference to the 1930s Palestine Mandate team that the 'Palestine team' that had participated in previous competitions in the 1930s was actually the forerunner of today's Israel team and as such bears no relation to the national team of the Palestinian authority.[2] However, the region currently known as Palestine is considered "one of the first Asian teams to compete in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers".[3]
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 5.500 | 4 |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0.182 | 0 |
— | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
- Matches
16 March 1934 | Egypt ![]() | 7 – 1 | ![]() | Cairo, Egypt |
El-Tetsh ![]() Taha ![]() Latif ![]() | [1] | Nudelman ![]() | Stadium: British Army Ground Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Stanley Wells (England) |
6 April 1934 | Palestine, British Mandate ![]() | 1 – 4 | ![]() | Tel Aviv, Palestine/Eretz Israel |
Sukenik ![]() | [2] | Latif ![]() El-Tetsh ![]() Fawzi ![]() | Stadium: Palms Stadium Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Frederick Goodsby (England) |
- Squad
Coaches: Egon Pollak,
Shimon Ratner
16/03/1934:
GK: Willy Berger (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
DF: Avraham Reznik (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Pinhas Fiedler (Maccabi Hasmonean)
MF: Zalman Friedman (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Gedalyahu Fuchs (Hapoel Haifa), Yohanan Sukenik (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
FW: Amnon Harlap (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Ferenc Kraus (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Paul Kastenbaum (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Haim Reich, Avraham Nudelman (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
06/04/1934:
GK: Willy Berger (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
DF: David Weinberg (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Pinhas Fiedler (Maccabi Hasmonean)
MF: Zalman Friedman (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Gedalyahu Fuchs (Hapoel Haifa), Yohanan Sukenik (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
FW: Amnon Harlap (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Ya'akov Levi-Meir (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Ya'akov Zelivanski (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Haim Reich, Avraham Nudelman (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
At the 1938 FIFA World Cup, Mandatory Palestine competed in the UEFA Group 6 qualifying round.[15] Hungary as the strongest team of this group was seeded. Greece and Mandatory Palestine would play against each other on a home-and-away basis, with Hungary playing against the winner at home. Mandatory Palestine lost to Greece in the First Round, and finished in third and last place.
In 1938 World Cup marked the second (1934 being the first) and final time Mandatory Palestine competed in the World Cup. FIFA states in reference to the 1930s Palestine Mandate team that the 'Palestine team' that had participated in previous competitions in the 1930s was actually the forerunner of today's Israel team and as such bears no relation to the national team of the Palestinian authority.[2]
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4.000 | 4 |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.250 | 0 |
- Matches
22 January 1938 | Palestine, British Mandate ![]() | 1 – 3 | ![]() | Tel Aviv, Palestine/Eretz Israel |
Neufeld ![]() | Report | Vikelidis ![]() Migiakis ![]() | Stadium: Maccabiah Stadium Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Mohammed Youssef (Egypt) |
20 February 1938 | Greece ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Athens, Greece |
Vikelidis ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio Leoforos Alexandras Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Mika Popovic (Yugoslavia) |
- Game 1
- Mandatory Palestine vs Greece
![]() | 1 — 3 (final score after 90 minutes) | ![]() |
Manager: Team: Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: Scorers: | Half-time: Competition: Date: Kick off: Venue: Attendance: Referee: Assistants: Match rules: | Manager: Team: Substitutes: Unused Substitutes: Scorers: |
- Game 2
- Greece vs Mandatory Palestine
![]() | 1 — 0 (final score after 90 minutes) | ![]() |
Manager: Team: Substitutes: Unused Substitutes: Scorers: | Half-time: Competition: Date: Kick off: Venue: Attendance: Referee: Assistants: Match rules: | Manager: Team: Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: Scorers: |
- Squad
Head coach: Egon Pollak
Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | ![]() | ![]() | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Avraham Beit haLevi | 1915 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Jerry Beit haLevi | 14 November 1912 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Shuka Brashedski | 1914 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | ![]() |
GK | Israel Elsner | 1909 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Gdalyahu Fuchs | 1911 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Mila Ginzburg | 1918 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | ![]() |
GK | Julius Klein | 1907 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | ![]() |
MF | Yosef Libermann | 1909 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Gaul Machlis | 1918 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Menahem Mirmovich | 1919 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Peri Neufeld | 1913 | 2 | 1 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Avraham Nudelmann | 1910 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | ![]() |
FW | Natan Pentz | 1917 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | ![]() |
DF | Avraham Reznik | 1909 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Yona Stern | 1908 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Yohanan Sukenik | 1910 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | ![]() |
At the 1950 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the UEFA Group 3 qualifying round. Israel finished in third and last place.[16]
This World Cup was the first for Israel, although they previously competed in 1934 and 1938 as Mandatory Palestine. FIFA states in reference to the 1930s Palestine Mandate team that the 'Palestine team' that had participated in previous competitions in the 1930s was actually the forerunner of today's Israel team and as such bears no relation to the national team of the Palestinian authority.[2]
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 4 |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 |
Source:[17]
- Matches
Israel competed in Group 3, which had 3 teams each. The strongest team, France, was seeded. The winner of the First Round would move on to the Final Round. Israel lost to Yugoslavia in the First Round and was eliminated.
21 August 1949 | Yugoslavia ![]() | 6–0 | ![]() | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
Pajević ![]() Senčar ![]() Ž. Čajkovski ![]() Bobek ![]() | Report | Stadium: JNA Stadion Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy) |
18 September 1949 | Israel ![]() | 2–5 | ![]() | Tel Aviv, Israel |
Glazer ![]() | Report | Valok ![]() Bobek ![]() Z. Čajkovski ![]() Ž. Čajkovski ![]() | Stadium: Maccabiah Stadium Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Yosef Kinstlich (Cyprus) |
At the 1954 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the UEFA Group 10 qualifying round. Israel finished in third and last place.[18]
- Standings
Final table | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 8 | X | 1:0 | 1:0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
2. | ![]() | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | 0:1 | X | 1:0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
3. | ![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 | 0:1 | 0:2 | X | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- Matches
8 November 1953 | Yugoslavia ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Skopje, Yugoslavia |
Milutinović ![]() | Report | Referee: Alsteen (Belgium) |
8 March 1954 | Israel ![]() | 0 – 2 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Report | Kokkinakis ![]() Kamaras ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland) |
21 March 1954 | Israel ![]() | 0 – 1 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Report | Zebec ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Leafe (England) |
At the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the Africa and Asia qualification round. The round was conducted in a knockout stage format.[19] Israel won its group by default because its three opponents, Turkey, Indonesia and Sudan, refused to play.
The national team was placed in the African/Asian zone and was drawn to play against Turkey in the first round. However, Turkey withdrew in protest of being placed in the African/Asian zone (instead of the European Zone), and Israel advanced to the second round without playing a match, along with Indonesia, Egypt and Sudan. Israel was drawn to play Indonesia, but, as Indonesia refused to play in Israel and as FIFA rejected their request to play against Israel on neutral ground, Indonesia withdrew and Israel advanced to the regional finals, again without playing a match, alongside Sudan. In the final round, Sudan refused to play Israel for political reasons and withdrew. FIFA had imposed a rule that no team would qualify without playing at least one match, after it had happened in several previous World Cups. Wales, which finished second in its group behind Czechoslovakia, was drawn into a play-off, which they won.
- CAF / AFC Preliminary Round - Group 2
Turkey refused to compete in the Asian group, so Israel advanced to the Second Round automatically.
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | advanced | ||||||
— | ![]() | withdrew |
- CAF / AFC second round
Indonesia withdrew after FIFA rejected their request to play against Israel on neutral ground. Israel advanced to the Final Round automatically.
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1= | ![]() | advanced | ||||||
1= | ![]() | advanced | ||||||
— | ![]() | withdrew | ||||||
— | ![]() | withdrew |
- CAF / AFC Final Round
Sudan refused to play against Israel for political reasons, so Israel would technically qualify automatically, but before the qualification rounds began, FIFA ruled that no team would qualify without playing at least one match (except for the defending champions and the hosts), and Israel had yet to play any.
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | advanced | ||||||
— | ![]() | withdrew |
- UEFA / AFC Play-off
A special play-off was created between Israel and the runner-up of one of the UEFA Groups, where the teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis, with the winner qualifying. After Belgium refused, Wales, the runner-up of UEFA Group 4, was the team drawn from the UEFA group runners-up.[20]
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 4 |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
- Matches
15 January 1958 | Israel ![]() | 0 – 2 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Report | L. Allchurch ![]() Bowen ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Maurice Guigue (France) |
5 February 1958 | Wales ![]() | 2 – 0 | ![]() | Cardiff, Wales |
I. Allchurch ![]() Jones ![]() | Report | Stadium: Ninian Park Referee: Klas Schipper (Netherlands) |
At the 1962 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the UEFA Group 7 qualifying round. The round was conducted in a knockout stage format. The five teams in this group played in a knockout stage on a home-and-away basis, with Israel finishing in second place, after losing to Italy in the finals.[21]
- Bracket
First Round | Second Round | Final | ||||||||
![]() | - | |||||||||
bye | - | |||||||||
![]() | - | |||||||||
![]() | withdrew | |||||||||
![]() | - | |||||||||
bye | - | |||||||||
![]() | 4 6 | |||||||||
![]() | 2 0 | |||||||||
![]() | - | |||||||||
bye | - | |||||||||
![]() | 0 2 | |||||||||
![]() | 1 3 | |||||||||
![]() | 1 6 | |||||||||
![]() | 1 1 | |||||||||
- Matches
- First Round
Israel defeated Cyprus to advance to the Second Round.
13 November 1960 | Cyprus ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() | Nicosia, Cyprus |
Shialis ![]() | Report | Kofman ![]() | Referee: Bajić (Yugoslavia) |
27 November 1960 | Israel ![]() | 6 – 1 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Levi ![]() Stelmach ![]() Nahari ![]() | Report | Shialis ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Bajić (Yugoslavia) |
- Second round
Israel defeated Ethiopia to advance to the Final Round.
14 March 1961 | Israel ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Glazer ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Zsolt (Hungary) |
19 March 1961 | Israel ![]() | 3 – 2 | ![]() | Haifa, Israel |
Glazer ![]() Stelmach ![]() | Mengistu ![]() Tesfaye ![]() | Referee: Pósa (Hungary) |
- Final round
Israel lost to Italy in the Final Round to be eliminated.
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 4 |
![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 |
15 October 1961 | Israel ![]() | 2 – 4 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Stelmach ![]() Young ![]() | Report | Lojacono ![]() Altafini ![]() Corso ![]() | Stadium: Ramat Gan Stadium Referee: Takow (Bulgaria) |
4 November 1961 | Italy ![]() | 6 – 0 | ![]() | Turin, Italy |
Sivori ![]() Corso ![]() Angelillo ![]() | Report | Referee: Asensi Martin (Spain) |
- Squad
Head coach: Gyula Mándi
Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aharon Amar | 1937 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | - | - | ![]() | |
Mordechai Benbinisti | 6 | 0 | 540 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() | ||
FW | Yehoshua Glazer | 29 December 1927 | 2 | 3 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() |
Yosef Goldstein | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() | ||
Yaacov Grundman | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 90 | - | ![]() | ||
GK | Ya'akov Hodorov | 16 June 1927 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
Boaz Kofman | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | - | - | - | ![]() | ||
FW | Shlomo Levi | 4 | 3 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() | |
Amatsia Levkovich | 6 | 0 | 540 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() | ||
Avraham Menchel | 12 December 1935 | 5 | 0 | 450 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() | |
Zvi Muisescu | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | - | - | - | |||
Shlomo Nahari | 3 | 1 | 270 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | - | 90 | - | ![]() | ||
Shalom Peterburg | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | 90 | ![]() | ||
FW | Zecharia Ratzabi | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() | |
FW | Danny Shmulevich-Rom | 29 November 1940 | 4 | 0 | 360 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Nahum Stelmach | 19 July 1936 | 5 | 4 | 450 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
Zvi Tendler | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() | ||
Gidon Tish | 5 | 0 | 450 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() | ||
GK | Yaacov Visoker | 4 | 0 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() | |
Uri Weinberg | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | - | - | ![]() | ||
Reuven Young | 3 | 1 | 270 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
At the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the UEFA Group 1 qualifying round, finishing in third and last place.[22] Israeli referee Menachem Ashkenazi also participated in the World Cup, officiating the Group 1 game between France and Mexico, as well as the Quarter-finals game between Portugal and North Korea.[23]
- Standings
Final table | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 6 | X | 5:0 | 1:0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | ||
2. | ![]() | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 6 | 3:0 | X | 4:0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | ||
3. | ![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 | 0:5 | 1:2 | X | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
- Matches
9 May 1965 | Belgium ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium |
Jurion ![]() | Report | Attendance: 21,699 Referee: Poulsen (Denmark) |
13 June 1965 | Bulgaria ![]() | 4 – 0 | ![]() | Slavia Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria |
Kotkov ![]() Asparuhov ![]() Kitov ![]() | Report | Attendance: 18,770 Referee: Talu (Turkey) |
10 November 1965 | Israel ![]() | 0 – 5 | ![]() | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel |
Report | Van Himst ![]() Thio ![]() Puis ![]() | Attendance: 48,355 Referee: Sbardeua (Italy) |
21 November 1965 | Israel ![]() | 1 – 2 | ![]() | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel |
Talbi ![]() | Report | Kolev ![]() Asparuhov ![]() | Attendance: 28,213 Referee: Babauczek (Austria) |
- Squad
Head coach: Milovan Ćirić
Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MF | Haim Bahar | 9 April 1943 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
DF | Menahem Bello | 26 December 1947 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | - | ![]() |
MF | Itzhak Englander | 30 April 1946 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | - | ![]() |
FW | Yehezkel Hazum | 1947 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | - | ![]() |
FW | Boaz Kofman | 23 May 1935 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | 90 | ![]() |
DF | Moshe Leon | 1944 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
GK | Haim Levin | 3 March 1937 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | ![]() |
DF | Amatsia Levkovich | September 1938 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() |
FW | Yosef Mahalal | 1939 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | - | ![]() |
GK | Yair Nosovski | 29 June 1937 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Haim Nurieli | 1943 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | - | ![]() |
DF | David Primo | 5 May 1946 | 4 | 0 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Moshe Romano | 1946 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Shmuel Rosenthal | 22 April 1947 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Danny Shmulevich-Rom | 29 November 1940 | 4 | 0 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Giora Spiegel | 27 July 1947 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Mordechai Spiegler | 19 August 1944 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | - | ![]() |
FW | Nahum Stelmach | 19 July 1936 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | - | ![]() |
MF | Rahamim Talbi | 17 May 1943 | 3 | 1 | 270 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | 90 | ![]() |
MF | Reuven Young | 15 May 1942 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | 90 | ![]() |
FW | Gadi Zelniker | 12 March 1944 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | - | ![]() |
At the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the AFC and OFC qualifying round, losing in the Zone A finals.[24] The 1974 World Cup was Israel's last as an official member of the AFC, as they resigned the Asian Games Federation in 1974.[25]
- Classification matches
Based on the results of the classification match Israel was assigned to Group 2 with Thailand and Malaysia.
16 May 1973 | Israel ![]() | 2 – 1 | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
19:45 KST (UTC+09) | Mordechai Spiegler ![]() Moshe Onana ![]() | Shusaku Hirasawa ![]() | Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Boskovic (Australia) |
- Group 2
Israel finished in first place in Group 2, moving on to the semi-finals with South Korea.
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 5 |
2 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 4 |
3 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 |
4 | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | −12 | 0 |
- Matches
19 May 1973 | Israel ![]() | 3 – 0 | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
17:25 KST (UTC+09) | Farkas ![]() Itzhak Shum ![]() Moshe Onana ![]() | Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Aing Kim Ean (Khmer Republic) |
21 May 1973 | Israel ![]() | 6 – 0 | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
18:00 KST (UTC+09) | George Borba ![]() Mordechai Spiegler ![]() Itzhak Shum ![]() Zvi Rozen ![]() Moshe Onana ![]() | Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Dhillon (Singapore) |
23 May 1973 | South Korea ![]() | 0 – 0 | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
19:45 KST (UTC+09) | Attendance: 40,000 Referee: U Tin Thut (Burma) |
- Semifinals
Israel, defeating Japan in the semifinals, advanced to the Zone A finals to face South Korea.
26 May 1973 | Israel ![]() | 1 – 0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
16:45 KST (UTC+09) | Moshe Onana ![]() | Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Dhillon (Singapore) |
- Finals
In the Zone A finals, Israel lost to South Korea, who moved on to the AFC/OFC Final round.
28 May 1973 | South Korea ![]() | 1 – 0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
19:00 KST (UTC+09) | Cha Bum-Kun ![]() | Attendance: 40,000 Referee: U Tin Thut (Burma) |
At the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Israel competed in the AFC and OFC Group 2 qualifying round, finishing in second place.[26] Israel, despite resigning the Asian Games Federation in 1974, was still assigned to compete in the AFC and OFC qualifying round.[25]
Additionally Israeli referee, Abraham Klein, worked games in Group 1, Group A and the third place match.[27]
- Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
|