Soccer

Hapoel Tel Aviv eyes Euroleague playoffs while Maccabi prays for spot

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Fenerbahce 95-80 as the Reds closed in on clinching a playoff spot with a record of 22-13. Meanwhile, a crucial contest awaits Maccabi as its aspirations are questioned.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV coach Oded Katash and his team's Euroleague postseason hopes are hanging by a thread, as the 51-year-old Israeli signed a three-year extension this week to remain on the yellow-and-blue sideline.
DANIEL PERETZ rose to the moment with a series of stunning saves vs Arsenal, carrying Southampton to a memorable FA Cup quarterfinal upset this week.

Israeli pride: Peretz lifts Southampton over Arsenal and into Wembley spotlight

Peretz, who moved from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Bayern Munich and then to Hamburg, has made a number of spectacular saves against Arsenal's young guns, helping the Gunners reach high standings.

|ByJOSH HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM players celebrate a dramatic late winner at Teddy Stadium – their joy echoing through empty stands as fans cheer from afar in homes and shelters across Israel.

Sounds of silence: Israeli sports return, but minus fans who define them

As the Israel Soccer League resumed play across the country this week, the atmosphere was eerie. It evoked the empty-stadium days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
The FIFA 26 Los Angeles logo is displayed on a soccer ball during the Los Angeles World Cup 2026.

FIFA does it again: Seats for the 2026 World Cup final listed at near $11,000

In the original joint bid by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, projections suggested the most expensive final ticket would top out at $1,550.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

FC 26: Not reinventing the ball

The annual football simulation tries to innovate player and manager career modes, but fails to truly revolutionize the genre.

OCTOBER 21, 2025ByLIOR NOVIK/MAARIV
Young guy playing computer soccer.

Maccabi Tel Aviv waive ticket allocations for Aston Villa match following security, safety fears

Citing safety concerns over a “toxic atmosphere,” Maccabi Tel Aviv waived its away ticket allocation for the Europa League game against Aston Villa in Birmingham.

OCTOBER 21, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Maccabi Tel Aviv players pose for a team group photo before a UEFA Europa League match against GNK Dinamo Zagreb at a neutral venue in Serbia, October 2, 2025.

Tel Aviv derby canceled after fireworks and fan violence erupt at Bloomfield Stadium

Fireworks and flares thrown by Hapoel fans forced police to cancel the Tel Aviv derby, sending 30,000 fans home.

OCTOBER 20, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Hapoel Tel Aviv's fans' flares at Bloomfield Stadium.

Hind Rajab Foundation's anti-Israeli dossier may have influenced Maccabi Tel Aviv UK fan ban

HRF said its recent report 'Game Over Israel: Sports Culture as a Cog in Genocide' had been shared with local police and security bodies in the UK just a few weeks prior.

OCTOBER 20, 2025ByMATHILDA HELLER
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Saied Abu Farchi celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, Topola, Serbia, October 2, 2025.

'Jews must be killed' shouted at Jewish player during Argentinian children's soccer match

A children’s football match in Argentina was suspended after a player shouted “Jews must be killed” at a rival.

OCTOBER 20, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
THERE’S SOMETHING about a soccer ball that men, including the president of the state, find appealing – especially in the presence of champion players.

Tel Aviv derby called off after chaos at Bloomfield

The decision to suspend the Tel Aviv derby came after extensive use of pyrotechnics by fans led to injuries among both supporters and police officers.

OCTOBER 19, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
The pre-game scene at Bloomfield Stadium on Sunday night caused the police to call off the derby between arch-rivals Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Banning Jewish events in Europe: A victory for Islamist extremists and far-left forces - opinion

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been informed that they will not be able to attend their team's Europa League match against Aston Villa on 6 November.

OCTOBER 17, 2025BySUZAN QUITAZ
The West Midlands Police has called for “an immediate review” of the decision not to allow supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv to attend November’s Europa League fixture against Aston Villa in Birmingham.

UK police call to review ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from European soccer match

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands called for an "immediate review” of the decision not to allow Israeli supporters to attend a game in Birmingham.

OCTOBER 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans inside Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece, September 24, 2025

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from attending game in UK against Aston Villa

The team cited "a number of physical and safety factors" when announcing that no visiting fans would be allowed in the stadium

OCTOBER 16, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Saied Abu Farchi celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, Topola, Serbia, October 2, 2025.

Blue-and-white bows out of World Cup race race

Mistakes proved costly in the qualifier in Italy, with a 3-0 defeat officially eliminating the Israelis from contention.

OCTOBER 15, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ITALY'S GIANLUCA MANCINI scores Azzurri’s third goal past Israeli defender Or Blorian (5) in the 3-0 victory World Cup qualifying win for the hosts in Udine.