A World Cup Party Israel Never Got Invited To
The column argues that many Israelis at World Cups still prefer to dress and speak like fans of Brazil, Argentina, England, Germany or the Netherlands, instead of embracing Israel’s own football memory. It says this tendency has existed since Mexico 1970, and frames it as an attempt to sneak into a celebration Israel was never formally invited to.
The writer contrasts that with Israel’s one true World Cup moment, Motaleh Spiegler’s goal in Toluca during Mexico 1970. He describes that goal as the country’s defining football memory, one that fans can still recite in detail. He also recalls the dramatic voice of Nahum Ben-Aharon and treats the moment as the only one that truly belonged to Israel.
From there, the column moves to contemporary World Cup obsession, saying fans set their alarms for 3:50 a.m. to watch Lionel Messi equal Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring list. It also mentions the disappointment of the next morning, when ordinary life returns, and jokes about the exhaustion of staying up all night.
The piece ends by returning to the same theme, that everything after Spiegler has been a continued effort to enter someone else’s party. It closes with the line, “איזה מזל שמסי בא” and tags the reference to the 2026 World Cup.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
