From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Kiryat Bialik, home to hostage Matan Angrest, announces plan to name new soccer field after Trump
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel
Eli Dukorski, the mayor of Kiryat Bialik, near Haifa, announces plans to name the city’s new soccer field after US President Donald Trump, in recognition of his “significant contribution to the release of our hostages.”
Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier and resident of Kiryat Bialik, was kidnapped by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023, and has remained in captivity.
“We are profoundly grateful to President Trump for his actions to free Israeli civilians and soldiers who were abducted on October 7, 2023,” says Dukorski. “We thank President Trump for putting his full weight behind the effort to release the hostages and dedicating extensive efforts that ultimately succeeded.”
“As an expression of our deep appreciation and respect, the new stadium being built in Kiryat Bialik will be named after President Trump,” he adds.
The decision still needs to be brought for approval at the next City Council meeting. The stadium will be part of a sports complex that will host the city’s cultural events and include training fields and classrooms for sports associations.
Israel’s security cabinet is set to meet this afternoon to vote on a ceasefire agreement that will see hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and put an end to fighting in Gaza.
The Times of Israel Community.