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Israeli soccer

Sabah's Tellur Mutallimov (at rear, center) shoots home in the final seconds of stoppage time to force extra time in his team's home match against Hapoel Beersheba, on August 25, 2026. The Azerbaijani team eventually won the game by 5-2, for an aggregate 6-4 win, qualifiying at Hapoel's expense for the European Champions League. (Israel Sports Channel 5 screenshot)
August 26, 2026, 12:57 am
Hapoel Beersheba, seconds from reaching UEFA Champions League, loses to Sabah in extra time
Azeri home team overcomes first-leg loss to draw even, forcing extra time, and then vanquishes Israeli club for aggregate score of 6-4; no Israeli team has qualified since 2022
By AP and ToI Staff
Union St-Gilloise’s Israeli forward #25 Anan Khalaili celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 6, football match between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) and Olympique de Marseille (FRA), at the RSC Anderlecht Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, on December 9, 2025. (NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP)
August 15, 2026, 2:51 pm
Crystal Palace signs Anan Khalaili in most expensive deal for an Israeli soccer player
London team agrees to pay Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise $28 million for the 21-year-old Israeli star, weeks after his move to Inter Milan fell through
By Agencies
Union St-Gilloise’s Israeli forward #25 Anan Khalaili celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 6, football match between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) and Olympique de Marseille (FRA), at the RSC Anderlecht Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, on December 9, 2025. (NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP)
August 10, 2026, 10:00 am
Israeli soccer star Anan Khalaili said set to sign with England’s Crystal Palace
Deal said worth some $32.5 million would make Haifa-born player the most expensive Israeli signing; Manor Solomon set to move to West Ham from Spurs
By Michael Horovitz
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Raz Shlomo, center, duels for the ball with Lyon's Pavel Sulc, down, during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Lyon, in Backa Topola, Serbia, November 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
June 25, 2026, 4:37 pm
Israel’s World Cup prospects look better in Asia, but amid protests it sticks with Europe
Kicked out of Asian Football Confederation in 1974, Jewish state’s team says return not on the table, citing standing in UEFA – and doubts it would be welcomed back
By Deborah Danan
FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israeli Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)
May 1, 2026, 8:22 am
Palestinian soccer chief refuses to shake hands with Israel federation VP at FIFA event
Jibril Rajoub accuses FIFA president of failing to understand ‘deep suffering’ of Palestinian people after Infantino urged the two to ‘give hope to the children’; Israel’s rep had said, ‘We are proud of their squads and our squads’
By Reuters and ToI Staff
The Israeli Premier League match between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on December 8, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
March 20, 2026, 11:06 am
FIFA fines Israeli soccer for fans’ racism, but lets teams from settlements compete
Governing body orders Israel Football Association to crack down on Beitar Jerusalem and others, but declines to weigh in on ‘complex matter’ of West Bank’s legal status
By Reuters
Israel fans cheer their team ahead of a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Israel and Italy at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
February 13, 2026, 2:52 am
Ireland commits to play Israel in European soccer tourney after seeking Israeli team’s ouster
Both squads are drawn in same group for Nations League, with Ireland’s soccer association acknowledging risk of forfeiture if it refuses to play against Jewish state
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Screen captures from video of police counting cash as they arrest suspects in an alleged soccer match-fixing case, January 26, 2026. (Israel Police)
January 26, 2026, 11:33 am
17 suspects linked to Israeli soccer team arrested in match-fixing probe
Police suspect organized crime group used FC Kiryat Yam to launder money in illegal gambling operation that took bets on games with pre-determined outcomes; players among suspects
By ToI Staff
Israeli midfielder Manor Solomon of Leeds United has a shot at goal during the Championship match between Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United on May 3, 2025, Home Park, Plymouth, Devon. (IMAGO/PPAUK via Reuters Connect)
January 4, 2026, 6:49 pm
Israeli soccer star’s transfer to Italian top league sparks outcry
Winger Manor Solomon joins ACF Fiorentina in an arrival that makes news more for politics than for sports
By Rossella Tercatin
Maccabi Tel Aviv's fans cheer their team as it arrives to inspect the pitch prior to the UEFA Europa League football match between VfB Stuttgart and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on December 11, 2025. (Thomas Kienzle/AFP)
December 21, 2025, 11:06 am
Maccabi Tel Aviv fined $23,000 over fans’ ‘racist’ behavior in Stuttgart
UEFA also imposes suspended one-game ban on soccer club selling tickets for away match after incident in which supporters chanted defamatory slogans; German police probing disturbances
By Stuart Winer and ToI Staff
Fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv leave Bloomfield Stadium as they boycott a game due to supporters being barred from attending after wearing t-shirts describing the police, the outlawed extremist Kach party, and the Maccabi soccer club as "scum," on December 6, 2025. (Screenshot, X; used used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 6, 2025, 10:50 pm
Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer fans barred from game for wearing shirts calling cops ‘scum’
Ultras Hapoel says shirts were response to police banning fans from bringing flags, banners; force says it has grounds to bar entry if there is risk of ‘harm to life and property’
By ToI Staff
Police officers secure a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstration outside Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, on November 6, 2025, ahead of the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. (HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
December 2, 2025, 4:10 pm
UK police used fake evidence to justify ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, chief admits
In parliamentary grilling, local police commander concedes he ‘conflated’ information, met with anti-Israel MP ahead of decision; Tory MP calls for resignation after ‘shocking’ admissions
By ToI Staff
A Maccabi Tel Aviv player kicks a ball during a match (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 5, 2025, 4:12 pm
Antisemitism charge kicked around as Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from UK match
While Birmingham police say they blocked ticket sales to Israelis for Thursday’s game at Aston Villa over concerns for fans’ security, many believe the reason is more insidious
By Zev Stub
Maccabi Tel Aviv's fans clap hands after the end of the Europa League soccer match between PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Toumpa stadium, in Thessaloniki, Greece, September 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)
November 1, 2025, 3:09 pm
Aston Villa accused of snubbing British Jewish fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv over ticket plan
Board of Deputies says club failed to explore proposal to allow local fans of Israeli club to attend; UK police say risk assessment for Thursday’s game hasn’t changed
By Stav Levaton and ToI Staff
Police stand guard after the Israeli Premier League match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv was canceled at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, on October 19, 2025. (Flash90)
October 28, 2025, 10:15 pm
Anger as police video equates Hapoel Tel Aviv fans to Palestinian rioters
Soccer club threatens to boycott cup final after force publishes clip of fans, East Jerusalem protesters aiming fireworks at officers and asks to ‘spot the differences’
By ToI Staff
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