Israel's Youth Handball Team Qualifies for U19 World Championship After Win Over Poland

Israel's national youth handball team secured a historic qualification for the Under-19 World Championship scheduled for next summer by narrowly defeating Poland 35-34 on August 6, 2026. This achievement follows the earlier qualification of Israel's Under-21 team for their respective World Championship. The standout player was Yonatan Pelech, who scored 18 goals and played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory. Goalkeeper Itamar Mashraki also made a significant impact, saving eight shots, including crucial stops in the final moments.

The match, held in Belgrade, was highly competitive and fluctuated throughout. Israel initially led 8-4 before Poland responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead. The teams exchanged leads multiple times, with Pelech equalizing several times, including a half-court goal to tie the score 20-20 at halftime. Despite Poland's attempts to pull ahead in the second half, Israel's defense and key saves helped them regain and maintain the advantage.

In the final six minutes, Israel extended their lead to 34-31, but Poland managed to tie the game at 34-34. The winning goal came from Nevo Masika, who scored the decisive goal after Poland missed their chance to equalize. Other notable scorers included Geva Dagani and Nevo Masika with four goals each, and Tomer Michalis with three. Israel will next face Austria in the 9th to 12th place classification matches.

This victory marks a significant milestone for Israeli handball, highlighting the emergence of young talents and the growing strength of the sport in the country.