Israel sports

Hanochi brings power and purpose as Israel fights to keep hoops World Cup hopes alive

This summer, Jerusalem signed one of Europe’s top coaches, Serbian Sasa Obradovic, who previously led Monaco to the EuroLeague Final Four.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
YOTAM HANOCHI will look to help Israel keep its World Cup hopes alive as it opens the second stage of qualifying against Poland and Latvia.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Semi Final - England v Argentina - Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US - July 15, 2026 Argentina's Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul celebrate after the match.

Jerusalem Jane: When a soccer league honors ‘martyrs,’ the world should stop turning a blind eye

Soccer is rarely something that we connect with terrorists, hatred, or incitement, unless it comes to the Palestinians. 

|ByJANE KIEL
Mickey Berkowitz on his 70th birthday

Israeli basketball legend Mickey Berkowitz’s severe dementia diagnosis revealed in documentary

Berkowitz has been living in a care facility away from his home in recent months, and the film documents his family’s efforts to cope with his condition.

|ByOR SHAKEDI
ISRAEL DAPPA (center) vies for the ball during Hapoel Jerusalem’s 3-1 Toto Cup victory this week over Hapoel Petah Tikva, in which the Israeli forward scored two goals.

Toto Cup semifinals set as Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Tel Aviv eye preseason title

Petah Tikva will face Bnei Sakhnin, while Jerusalem will play Maccabi Haifa in Toto Cup placement games next weekend.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Northern Israel’s 1st padel club launches

Located next to the Great Shape Country Club, the new complex positions Nesher at the forefront of Israel’s padel boom, bringing the internationally popular sport north for the first time.

FEBRUARY 10, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
NESHER'S NEW padel courts mark the arrival of northern Israel’s first padel club and the sport’s rapid rise beyond the country’s center.

Beersheba widens gap on Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel Aviv blanks Maccabi Bnei Reineh for third

Late headers, big saves, and packed stadiums highlight a dramatic week in the Israeli Premier League.

FEBRUARY 10, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL BEERSHEBA’S Igor Zlatanovic (front) celebrates after scoring the Reds’ first goal in their 2-1 victory over Beitar Jerusalem this week at Turner Stadium.

Harrison Bader, Dean Kremer headline as Team Israel announces World Baseball Classic lineup

Several MLB players have been added to Team Israel's roster this year, in time for next month's World Baseball Classic.

FEBRUARY 7, 2026ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Apr 17, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at Citi Field.

Hapoel Beersheba leapfrogs Beitar Jerusalem back into first place

Beersheba will face second-place Beitar Jerusalem in its next league match.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV teammates Dor Peretz (left) and Sayed Abu Farchi celebrate during their 4-1 Premier League victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona on Monday night.

‘48 points to fight for’: Ronny Deila takes over at Maccabi Tel Aviv

Ronny Deila has been named Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new head coach, bringing championship experience from Europe and the US for the run in.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Maccabi Tel Aviv's new head coach Ronny Deila.

Hapoel Jerusalem advances to State Cup semis as Tel Aviv clubs fall in Europe

Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, advancing to the Israel State Cup semifinals as Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv faced defeat in Euroleague basketball games.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
JARED HARPER scored a game-high 24 points to lead Hapoel Jerusalem to a 93-83 State Cup quarterfinal victory over a suddenly slumping Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Beersheba in OT, while Jerusalem, Mac TA both take wins home

Hapoel Tel Aviv slipped by Hapoel Beersheba 112-108 in overtime to notch the tight win at Yad Eliyahu and improve its Israeli league record to 14-1 and remain in first place.

JANUARY 27, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV'S Antonio Blakeney blocks a shot during the Reds' 112-108 overtime victory over Hapoel Beersheba in Israeli league action at Yad Eliyahu.

Police arrest 17 members of soccer team in match-fixing and gambling probe

Police did not specify the team, but Israeli media identified it as F.C. Kiryat Yam, which plays near Haifa.

JANUARY 26, 2026ByPESACH BENSON/TPS
Israel Police and forensic teams at the site of the murder of a three-year-old in east Jerusalem, July 7, 2025.

Beitar Jerusalem moves into top spot

Hapoel Beersheba falls late to Hapoel Tel Aviv • Maccabi Haifa dominates Maccabi Tel Aviv

JANUARY 20, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV’S Liran Rotman assisted on the winning goal and made up for his penalty miss in last week’s derby as the Reds beat Hapoel Beersheba 2-1 at Bloomfield.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv deliver duo Euroleague victories

Maccabi survives late Zalgiris push at home as Hapoel rallies past ASVEL on the road in Euroleague basketball matches.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV guard Tre Clark is all smiles during the yellow-and-blue’s 100-97 Euroleague home victory over Zalgiris at Menora Mivtachim Arena.