Israeli Forward Taayi Brivo Faces Club Resistance Ahead of Nations League Campaign

As the Israeli national team prepares for its opening match against Austria in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, striker Taayi Brivo is encountering difficulties securing release from his club, D.C. United. Despite Brivo's impressive form, having scored 12 goals this season, D.C. United has refused to allow him to join the national team camp before Yom Kippur, limiting his acclimatization time ahead of the match. National team coach Ran Ben Shimon and assistant Gal Cohen have requested that U.S. clubs release their players earlier than the mandatory dates to help them adjust to the time difference, but D.C. United declined, citing that Brivo will already miss one club game during the official release period.

Additionally, former players Dor Turgeman and Idan Toklomati are expected to receive call-ups, though it remains uncertain if they will arrive early. The Israeli Football Association has instructed team managers to submit formal requests to Charlotte, New England, and D.C. United in hopes of reversing the clubs' decisions.

Meanwhile, for the home matches against Kosovo and Ireland in Debrecen, Hungary, former national team veterans Zahi Armeli and Yaron Perselni will join the delegation. Perselni, 67, earned 20 caps as a defender and played eight seasons at Maccabi Haifa, famously involved in a violent 1988 match against Australia. Armeli, 68, is Maccabi Haifa's all-time leading scorer with 90 goals in 179 appearances and scored 10 goals in 28 national team appearances. Their presence continues the tradition of former players supporting the national squad during home fixtures.