A golden generation of Israeli footballers caught between hope and war
In 2023 Israel's under-20 football team gave the country a historic World Cup run built on Jewish-Arab unity, but months later Hamas's attack and the ensuing war reshaped the sport's atmosphere at home.
In June 2023, Israel's under-20 national football team stunned observers by beating Brazil en route to a third-place finish at the Under-20 World Cup. The squad, which included both Jewish and Muslim players, was seen as a symbol of coexistence — Arab-Israeli player Anan Khalaili used a Hebrew phrase tied to Jewish identity while thanking fans after a win over Uzbekistan.
The run was no fluke: the same core of players had already finished runners-up at the 2022 Under-19 Euros and later reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Under-20 Euros. Several have since moved to major European clubs, including Khalaili to Crystal Palace and Oscar Gloukh to Ajax.
War changes the picture
Just over four months after the win over Brazil, Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response in Gaza has since killed more than 70,000 people, according to the United Nations.
Since then, racism against Arab players in Israeli club football has become more widespread and severe, according to Matan Segal, former head of the anti-discrimination initiative Kick It Out Israel. Several players of Palestinian heritage have faced heightened pressure — Maccabi Haifa forward Dia Saba left the club after backlash over his wife's social media post, while former Israel Under-21 captain Ataa Jaber switched nationality to represent Palestine.
At the same time, some figures in the sport continue trying to preserve unity. Former Israel international Beram Kayal now works with young talents from Palestinian areas, saying football still has the power to bring communities together despite the ongoing conflict.
