Israeli Youth Footballers Shine in Preseason Matches for Top Clubs

Israeli football clubs Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Maccabi Tel Aviv held preseason matches on July 3, 2026, as they prepare for the 2026/27 season. These games focused on fitness and gave opportunities to promising youth players from their academies.

Beitar Jerusalem featured Amit Hilo, a 19-year-old left-back who has progressed through their academy and played for Israel's youth national team. Hilo, who signed his first professional contract about a year ago, is seen as a potential backup for the left-back position behind Jordan Cohen. Known for his attacking runs and ball control, Hilo played alongside senior players in the preseason and is considered a useful rotational option.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Noam Schwartz, a 20-year-old right-back, appeared as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to UMT. Schwartz spent the previous season as a starter for Hapoel Kfar Shalem in the National League and has represented Israel at various youth levels. Having signed a senior contract in 2024, he is expected to compete for a first-team spot in the upcoming season.

Hapoel Tel Aviv started Omri Levi in attack during the second half of their match, where five of the six goals were scored. Levi, who joined the club at age 14, recently signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the senior team. He scored 11 goals in the youth Premier League this past season and has made two appearances in the senior Israeli Premier League. In the preseason, he played alongside creative teammates Mor Buskila and Stav Turiel.

These preseason matches highlight the clubs' focus on integrating talented youth players into their senior squads as they build for the next season.