Israel Launches New Third-Tier National Football League Starting 2027/28 Season

The Israeli Football Association is set to establish a new professional third-tier league, called Liga Artzit, beginning with the 2027/28 season. This league will operate under the association's full responsibility and aims to professionalize the third level of Israeli football.

The league will initially feature between 12 and 18 teams. The base lineup will include two teams relegated from the National League and five promoted from Liga Alef each cycle. The league can expand by up to six additional teams if affiliated reserve teams choose to join. Promotion and relegation will mirror the system between the Premier League and National League, with two teams moving up and down between Liga Artzit and the National League, and a similar system between Liga Artzit and Liga Alef involving direct relegations and playoffs.

Financially, the minimum budget for each club will be 2.25 million shekels, with a proposal to gradually raise it to 2.5 million shekels over three years under consideration. Strict financial oversight will be enforced.

Reserve teams, named after their parent clubs with a 'B' suffix (e.g., Maccabi Tel Aviv B), will be integrated as part of the main club rather than separate entities. Their squads will primarily consist of players under 23, with up to three over-23 players allowed per match. Reserve teams cannot compete in the same league as their parent club; if the parent club is relegated to the reserve team's league, the reserve team must drop an additional tier. Reserve teams are excluded from cup competitions. Up to four reserve teams will be permitted in the National League, with specific rules governing promotion and relegation to maintain league integrity.

Regarding player transfers, each team may include one foreign player without age restrictions, who does not count against the over-23 player limit. Players can move freely between reserve and parent teams under specified transfer window rules, and injured players sidelined for a month can temporarily join reserve teams for rehabilitation outside the transfer system.

Matches will be officiated by a four-referee team, including a main referee, two assistants, and a fourth official, similar to the National League setup.