Israel Secures Third Place at 2026 Footvolley World Championship
The Israeli footvolley duo Ron Ben Yishai and Maor Haas achieved a significant milestone by finishing third at the 2026 Footvolley World Championship, reinforcing Israel's growing prominence in the sport. Despite their efforts, they were unable to break Brazil's dominance, losing in the semifinals to the Brazilian pair Hiltinio and Franklin, widely regarded as the strongest team globally, with scores of 18:13, 18:13, and 2:0 overall.
The Israeli pair had a strong tournament start, winning all their group matches against Switzerland, France, and Spain, finishing first in Group B. They then defeated the Paraguayan team Bota and Carmona in the quarterfinals, who aimed to restore Paraguay's status in the sport. However, in the semifinals, after losing to the Brazilians, the Israeli team was set to face the German duo Loki and Joel for the bronze medal match. Joel's injury led to the Germans withdrawing, granting Israel the bronze medal.
This achievement marks Israel's third consecutive bronze medal in the Footvolley World Championship, following similar results in 2023 and 2024. The final saw the Brazilian pair Tabinio and GJ defeat Hiltinio and Franklin to claim the gold medal. Ron and Maor's consistent performance continues to establish Israel as a rising power in the evolving sport of footvolley.
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