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 early games focused on fitness and gave opportunities to promising youth players from their academies.

Amith Hilo, a 19-year-old left-back from Beitar Jerusalem's academy, started alongside senior players. He is viewed as a potential backup for the left-back position, known for his attacking runs and ball skills. Hilo signed his first professional contract about a year ago and has experience with Israel's youth national teams.

Noam Schwartz, nearly 20, played for Maccabi Tel Aviv after spending the past season as a regular starter for Hapoel Kfar Shalem in the National League. He appeared in a friendly against UMT, providing key passes and demonstrating his right-back capabilities. Schwartz signed a senior contract with Maccabi in 2024 and has represented Israel at various youth levels.

Omri Levi, an attacker for Hapoel Tel Aviv, featured in the second half of their preseason game, which saw five of the six goals scored. Levi, who joined Hapoel at 14, recently signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the senior team. He scored 11 goals in the youth Premier League last season and played two senior league matches this year.

These matches highlight the clubs' focus on integrating young talent into their senior squads as they build toward the upcoming season.