Sports — Israel news in English
The latest sports from across Israeli media, translated and compared. 48 recent stories.
Report: Kawhi Leonard may be open to a reunion in Toronto or San Antonio
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Kawhi Leonard, 34, may be open only to the Clippers, Raptors, or Spurs if a trade happens. Stein считает Toronto the likeliest fit, while San…
Video of Morocco’s Ismail Saibari Trying to Steal a Goalkeeper’s Towel Goes Viral
An old clip from the Africa Cup of Nations showed Morocco forward Ismail Saibari trying to steal Edouard Mendy’s towel during the final against Senegal. The video went viral with…
Kobi Refua Says He Is Fully Committed to Bnei Eilat After Viral Ben Yehuda Clash
Kobi Refua, newly named sporting director of Bnei Eilat, said he is committed to building the club into a promotion contender in its first season. He also addressed the viral half…
Robbie Avila Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With the Lakers After Going Undrafted
Robbie Avila, an undrafted Saint Louis star, has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal gives the cult-favorite college big man a summer chance to mak…
Al-Taawoun unveils Zarko Lazetic, but omits Maccabi Tel Aviv from his resume
Zarko Lazetic has been named Al-Taawoun’s new coach and will begin next season on a reported $2 million salary. In its official introduction on Thursday, the Saudi club omitted Ma…
Olympic Day Marked at Meir Medical Center With Young Athletes and Children
International Olympic Day was celebrated at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba with the Israel Olympic Committee, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and about 130 children. The event…
How an American Crowd Anthem Became a World Cup Stadium Favorite
The United States has emerged as one of the 2026 World Cup’s strongest teams, beating Paraguay and Australia to finish first in its group. After Friday’s win over Australia, more…
World Cup 2026 knockout picture starts to take shape
As the third and final group-stage round of World Cup 2026 unfolds, the knockout-stage bracket is becoming clearer. The article lists the projected round-of-32 matchups and notes…
Shane Larkin set to join Fenerbahce in unusual self-financed move
Shane Larkin is set to leave Anadolu Efes for Fenerbahce in an unusual transfer. The 33-year-old will reportedly pay $400,000 himself to be released and accept a lower salary on a…
Could Portland Be Cut Out of a Jeremy Grant Deal to Minnesota?
Minnesota’s reshaped roster may make Portland forward Jeremy Grant a trade target. The Timberwolves could pursue him via a deal, while Charlotte’s new $40 million trade exception…
Netanyahu’s Lawyer Takes Up Ashdod’s Doping Complaint Against Tiberias
Amit Hadad, Netanyahu’s lawyer, is representing M.S. Ashdod in a complaint against Ironi Tiberias over alleged banned-substance use and IV treatment. The federation and anti-dopin…
Ecuador Must Beat Germany in Tonight’s World Cup Clash
Ecuador plays Germany at 23:00 in a World Cup 2026 match it must win. Germany has already clinched first place and is trying to equal a historic record.
Moshe Damayo Takes New Advisory Role at Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi
Moshe Damayo has joined Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi as senior professional adviser. The Liga Alef South club says he will help shape the squad, staff and long-term strategy, as well as…
Hapoel Jerusalem extends Tamir Haimovich, loans out Ben Gordin again
Hapoel Jerusalem said it will keep defender Tamir Haimovich for two more seasons and loan goalkeeper Ben Gordin for another year. The club, which narrowly avoided relegation last…
Lamelo Ball traded to Minnesota in major NBA deal
LaMelo Ball has been traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-asset deal. Minnesota got Ball and Josh Green, while Charlotte received Naz Reid, d…
FIFA Weighs Expanding Club World Cup to 48 Teams
FIFA is preparing to discuss expanding the Club World Cup to 48 teams, following the new 48-team World Cup format. The change would likely bring in more European clubs and raise t…
Jerusalem Honors Adi Gordon as Streetball 2026 Wraps Up
Jerusalem closed Streetball 2026 after two days, with hundreds of players from 130 teams competing. The city honored Adi Gordon, marking 30 years since his famous winning basket s…
Nimni: Goldhar Was Involved in Detail, and Naharne Made a Good Impression
Avi Nimni said Dor Peretz turned down higher offers from abroad and signed a new three-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He detailed the salary terms, the long negotiations, and th…
Beitar Jerusalem Closing in on Dan Glazer, With Foreign Spot at Stake
Beitar Jerusalem is trying to sign Dan Glazer on a two-year deal worth about 200,000 euros per season. The club hopes he will be released from Kairat without compensation, and if…
Mbappe and Haaland Lead the Race for Group Supremacy as World Cup Group Play Reaches the Finish
France and Norway headline the final round of World Cup group-stage matches on Friday, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland meeting for the first time in national-team shirts. Be…
Tunisia’s coaching chaos goes far beyond one World Cup rout
Tunisia fired Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 loss to Sweden and hired Hervé Renard, only to lose 4-0 in his first match. The article says the real crisis is inside the federation, whe…
Hector Bellerin again denounces Israel in interview
Hector Bellerin used an appearance on Marc Giró’s Cara Show to again criticize Israel and back Palestine. He said football should use its platform to oppose what he called genocid…
Dor Peretz Signs Record Israeli Salary Deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dor Peretz signed a new long-term contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday after weeks of uncertainty and foreign interest. The deal makes him one of the highest-paid Israelis i…
Emmanuel Sharp draws praise after being picked 45th by Sacramento
Emmanuel Sharp was taken 45th overall by Sacramento in the 2026 NBA Draft. Analysts praised his shooting and defense, but questioned whether his size will limit his NBA role.
Fenerbahce Releases Four Players After Landing Three New Signings
Fenerbahce released four players on Thursday to make room for expected additions, including Shane Larkin, Shaq Shields and Braxton Key. The departures include Maccabi Tel Aviv can…
Hapoel Ramat Gan Adds Ghanaian Left Back Farid Ibrahim
Hapoel Ramat Gan signed Ghanaian left back Farid Ibrahim, pending medical tests. He is the club’s fifth summer signing and its first foreign addition for the 2026/27 season.
Yan Diomande’s rise from hardship to World Cup prominence
Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande described a childhood of poverty, a difficult move to the United States, and the death of his 15-year-old sister Roxane. The article says that hard…
Why Curaçao’s celebrated World Cup shirt may never be worn
Curaçao’s yellow away shirt has been widely praised ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but FIFA rules may keep it off the pitch. Because Curaçao’s group opponents do not clash with its…
Maccabi Tel Aviv Weighs Reunion With Eli Dasa
Maccabi Tel Aviv is seriously weighing a move to bring back Eli Dasa, who left the club in 2019. The 33-year-old Israel captain is now a free agent after a strong season with NEC…
Roman Sorkin Released From Israel Squad Because of Injury
Roman Sorkin has been released from Israel’s national team squad because of injury ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Croatia. Israel is also missing five other inj…
Brazilian World Cup fans caught up in viral alien-abduction prophecy
A viral prediction by Brazilian medium Wue Bahiana sparked online claims that aliens could interrupt Brazil’s World Cup match against Scotland in Miami. The game went ahead normal…
Lundberg's Salary Demand Nearly Triples, Pushing Him Further from Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv remains far from signing Lundberg after his camp raised its demand to $10 million for three seasons. The latest request is far above earlier talks and last season…
Maccabi Tel Aviv Director Hints at Possible Bonzie Colson Return
Maccabi Tel Aviv director Eric Shatilman said the club expects a signing within days and to complete its roster by mid-July. He also hinted that former player Bonzie Colson could…
Maccabi Netanya signs right-back Alon Azogi for two years
Maccabi Netanya signed 26-year-old right-back Alon Azogi from Bnei Sakhnin on a two-year deal. The club paid 200,000 shekels to activate his release clause.
Shtilman Says Maccabi Tel Aviv Will Raise Budget Into EuroLeague’s Top Six
Erik Shtilman said Maccabi Tel Aviv has approved a major budget increase that could lift it into the EuroLeague’s top six. He also said the club hopes to finalize a signing within…
Deal Nears Between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dor Peretz
Maccabi Tel Aviv is close to signing Dor Peretz on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year. The agreement could be completed Thursday or Friday, and Peretz is expected…
Telegraph Report Says Qatar Is Funding “Fans” to Fill Stadiums at 2026 World Cup
The Telegraph says Qatar's football association funded travel packages for about 1,000 fans to attend the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. and Canada. The report describes hotel briefin…
Riesberg Left Off NSN’s 2026 Tour de France Lineup
NSN Cycling has left Israeli rider Riesberg out of its 2026 Tour de France squad. The team prioritized sprinter Girmay instead, according to a Sport 5 report published June 25, 20…
Roman Sorkin: Yam Madar Is the Best Israeli Player in the League
Roman Sorkin praised Hapoel Tel Aviv's EuroLeague place and said it helps Israeli basketball. He also singled out Yam Madar as the best Israeli player in the league, saying Madar…
Japanese Fans Clean Up, and Two Israeli Players Draw Praise in Japan
Two Japanese sports journalists explained why Japan’s fans and players clean stadiums and dressing rooms after matches. They also praised Israeli players Neta Lavi and Dean David…
Florian Wirtz’s discipline, not talent alone, shaped his rise
Florian Wirtz’s childhood coaches say his success came from rare determination and focus, not just natural talent. Raised with few screens and lots of outdoor activity, he later b…
Ayase Ueda's rise from quiet schoolboy to Japan's World Cup scoring star
Ayase Ueda scored twice and set up another goal in Japan’s 4-0 win over Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old Feyenoord striker, who led the Dutch league in scoring, is n…
Roman Sorkin Says He Could Play in the NBA if He Were a Free Agent
Roman Sorkin said after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 58th title that he believes he could play in the NBA if he were a free agent. He described his clutch Game 4 three-pointer, praised team…
World Cup lookalikes evoke Israeli league players
Sports 5 highlighted three World Cup players who resemble Israeli Premier League footballers. The article singled out Iraq's Merchas Doski, Morocco's Jassim Yassine and Iran's Ali…
Israel’s World Cup Problem Is Not Asia, It Is Its Own Football Culture
A Hebrew opinion piece argues Israel should stop blaming Asia for its World Cup absence. It says Asian football has improved greatly, and Israel’s real problem is its own lack of…
Israel Volleyball Team Prepares for Historic European League Semifinal
Israel’s volleyball national team is preparing for a European Volleyball League semifinal against the Netherlands in a two-leg series. The article also says a logistics operation…
Hapoel Rishon LeZion in advanced talks to sign Ezekiel Henty
Hapoel Rishon LeZion is in advanced talks to sign Nigerian striker Ezekiel Henty as part of a major promotion push. The club has also finalized deals with two more players and is…
Report: Levante and Elche Target Maccabi Tel Aviv Midfielder Issouf Sissokho
Issouf Sissokho is reportedly a transfer target for Levante, with Elche also interested. The Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder wants to leave this summer despite having one year left on…