In a major development for Israeli soccer, the Israel Football Association officially approved a broad reform package on Monday, which includes expanding the foreign player quota in the Israeli Premier League and restructuring the domestic league system.
The decision follows a previous vote by top-tier clubs and now clears the way for the implementation of changes that have sparked significant public and internal debate.
One of the most significant elements of the reform is the approval for clubs to register up to eight foreign players, a move the Israeli league’s governing body had pushed for during recent meetings. However, strict financial and regulatory conditions will apply to signing the seventh and eighth foreign players.
Under the new framework, any club signing a seventh foreign player must pay a minimum gross salary of €200,000 and will forfeit a NIS 200,000 grant from the league. Signing an eighth foreign player requires a minimum contract of €500,000 and results in the forfeiture of a NIS 1 million grant.
The reforms are designed to encourage clubs to act responsibly and invest only in high-quality foreign talent. As of now, there is still no final agreement between the IFA and the Israeli Players Union regarding the expanded quota.
Chairman Shino Zuaretz has been authorized to lead the negotiations with the union. Should the eight-player quota move forward, it will be under the existing financial penalty structure, and clubs will not receive the special NIS 3 million grant promised by Sports Minister Miki Zohar.
Israel Football Association announces a new third division and the creation of "B Teams"
Alongside the foreign player reform, the IFA also approved several structural changes to the domestic soccer pyramid. Starting with the 2027/28 season, a new nationwide third division – Liga Artzit – will be established, consisting of 18 teams.
Up to six of those clubs may be designated as “B teams” for Premier League clubs, composed primarily of players under the age of 23. These B teams will not be eligible to participate in the State Cup or receive direct league funding.
The IFA also introduced stricter professional standards. From the 2026/27 season onward, all professional league clubs will be required to maintain a minimum budget – NIS 18 million in the Premier League and NIS 5 million in the National League – as well as meet baseline criteria in youth development and infrastructure. Clubs unable to meet these conditions will be relegated to a lower tier and will not be replaced by other clubs.
Another major requirement coming into effect in 2026/27 is the stadium mandate. Any club in a professional league must play its home games in a regulation stadium located in its home city. Clubs based in cities without a suitable stadium will be required to relocate to a nearby city with a compliant facility and a population exceeding 50,000.
IFA Chairman Shino Zuaretz welcomed the approval of the reform and expressed optimism about the future of Israeli soccer.
“I firmly believe that the comprehensive reform approved by both the league administration and now the IFA board is an excellent development for Israeli football and for the Israeli player,” Zuaretz said. “This plan came after in-depth evaluation, thoughtful consideration, and a careful balancing of all elements – leagues, European competitions, national teams, and the players themselves.”