Israel Kicks Off UEFA Nations League Campaign Aiming for Euro 2028 Berth

The Israeli national football team begins its 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday, September 24th, with an away match against Austria. This marks the start of four games in ten days for the team, coached by Ran Ben Shimon. The primary objective for the Israeli Football Association is qualification for Euro 2028, and success in the Nations League is seen as a crucial stepping stone.

Having been relegated from the top tier after finishing last in their previous Nations League group, Israel now competes in the second tier. They have been drawn into a group with Austria, Ireland, and Kosovo, opponents considered manageable for the Israeli team. Following the opening match in Austria, Israel will play Ireland at home in Debrecen, Hungary, then Kosovo, and conclude with an away game against Ireland in Serbia, as the latter country is unwilling to host Israel.

Performance in the Nations League directly impacts Euro 2028 qualification pathways. Finishing first in their group would promote Israel back to the first tier and secure them a spot in the second-strongest seeding pot for the Euro qualifiers. This means they would face only one opponent from a higher-ranked pot during qualification, a significant advantage as group winners and the eight best second-placed teams will qualify for the tournament.

Even a second-place finish would guarantee Israel a place in the second seeding pot for the Euro qualifiers, though it wouldn't result in promotion to the top Nations League tier. Both first and second place could potentially lead to a Nations League playoff spot for Euro qualification, contingent on other results.

Conversely, finishing third or fourth in the group would place Israel in the third seeding pot for the Euro qualifiers, facing two higher-ranked opponents and diminishing their chances of reaching the tournament. A last-place finish would see them demoted to the third tier of the Nations League.

Euro 2028 is scheduled to be hosted by England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Unlike previous tournaments, the host nations do not automatically qualify, and the exact number of playoff spots available through the Nations League remains unclear, with hosts potentially receiving preferential playoff berths. Regardless, securing a playoff spot or qualifying directly through the main qualifiers is the ultimate goal.