Israel Secures Third Place at 2026 Footvolley World Championship

The Israeli footvolley duo Ron Ben Yishai and Maor Hass achieved a significant milestone by finishing third at the 2026 Footvolley World Championship, held recently. Despite not breaking Brazil's dominance in the semifinals, where they lost to the Brazilian pair Hiltinio and Franklin with scores of 18:13, 18:13, and 2:0 overall, the Israeli team secured the bronze medal after the German duo Loki and Joel withdrew due to injury. This marks the third consecutive year (2023, 2024, and 2026) that Israel has earned third place in this growing sport.

The Israeli pair entered the tournament as four-time European champions and topped their group by defeating Switzerland, France, and Spain. They then advanced past the Paraguayan team Bota and Carmona in the quarterfinals with set scores of 15:18 and 9:18. The final saw the Brazilian teams face off again, with Tabinio and G winning gold after beating Hiltinio and Franklin 16:18 and 15:18.

Ron and Maor's consistent performance continues to establish Israel as a rising power in footvolley, a sport that blends beach volleyball and soccer skills. Their semifinal opponents, Hiltinio and Franklin, are widely regarded as the strongest team globally, and Franklin also competes alongside Israeli player Lee Liberman in the X MOBILITY league. The Israeli duo's podium finish highlights their ongoing success and the sport's growing international competitiveness.