Israel women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Israel national football team.

Israel
AssociationIsrael Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachErez Belfer
CaptainShahar Nakav
Most capsKarin Sendel (69)
Top scorerSilvi Jan (29)
FIFA codeISR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 70 Decrease 1 (15 March 2024)[1]
Highest53 (March 2017)
Lowest76 (March 2022)
First international
Unofficial:
 Netherlands 12–0 Israel 
(Zaandam, Netherlands; 27 August 1977)
Official:
 Israel 0–7 Romania 
(Bat Yam, Israel; 2 November 1997)
Biggest win
 Israel 12–1 Estonia 
(Herzliya, Israel; 9 October 2004)
Biggest defeat
 Israel 0–13 Poland 
(Ramat Gan, Israel; 24 February 1998)

The Israel women's national football team (Hebrew: נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל לנשים) represents Israel in international women's football. The Israel women's national football team was established in 1997. Women's football in Israel was developed as an upside down pyramid by first opening the national team and then after 2 years opening the first women's football league in Israel. Women's Football in Israel is struggling to develop because it is lacking investment.

History[edit]

Women's football in Israel first appeared in 1970, with several clubs being formed in the following years. However, these clubs folded, except for the M.I.L.N (Moa'don Israeli LeKaduregel Nashim (Hebrew: מועדון ישראלי לכדורגל נשים, lit. Israeli Club for Women's Football)), which continued touring and playing exhibition matches in Israel and abroad.[2] During this period a team representing Israel played a match against Netherlands, losing 0–12.[3]

In 1997, following FIFA orders, the IFA established a women's national team ahead of the 1999 FIFA women's World Cup. Rony Schneider was appointed as team manager and supervised a series of trials, which resulted in a 26 women squad, which played its first official match against Romania on 2 November 1997.[4]

As of April 2015, the national team played 95 matches (31 wins, 7 draws, 57 losses), scoring 111 goals. The team is yet to make an appearance in either the World Cup or the Women's Euro.

FIFA world rankings[edit]

As of 14 April 2021[5]
Year End rank Best rank Worst rank
2003 70 70 72
2004 71 69 71
2005 67 67 71
2006 63 63 68
2007 63 61 64
2008 60 60 63
2009 57 56 57
2010 61 58 61
2011 65 60 65
2012 62 60 63
2013 55 55 61
2014 55 55 62
2015 59 57 59
2016 55 55 56
2017 62 53 62
2018 64 64
2019 63 63
2020 68
2021

Results and fixtures[edit]

See also: 2024 in association football, 2024 in sports, and FIFA International Match Calendar
  • The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023[edit]

26 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Estonia  0–5  Israel Tartu, Estonia
19:00 EEST Report
Stadium: Tamme Stadium
Referee: Lisa Benn (England)
23 November[note 1] 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Kazakhstan  0–2  Israel Telki, Hungary[note 2]
13:00 CET Report
Stadium: Globall Football Park
Referee: Simona Ghisletta (Switzerland)
26 November[note 1] 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Israel  0–0  Kazakhstan Telki, Hungary[note 2][note 3]
13:00 CET Report Stadium: Globall Football Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Cansu Tryak (Turkey)
29 November[note 4] 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Armenia  0–4  Israel Armavir, Armenia
Report
Stadium: Armavir City Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Frederikke Lydia Søkjær (Denmark)
2 December[note 4] 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Israel  6–1  Armenia Yerevan, Armenia[note 3]
IST
Report
Stadium: Republican Stadium
Referee: Vivian Peeters (Netherlands)
5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League GS Israel  4–1  Estonia Telki, Hungary[note 3]
 Report
Stadium: Globall Football Park
Referee: Maïka Vanderstichel (France)

2024[edit]

5 April 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Slovakia  2–0  Israel Senec, Slovakia
15:00 CET
Report Stadium: NTC Senec
Referee: Silvia Domingos (Portugal)
9 April 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Israel  2–4  Serbia Győr, Hungary[note 5]
16:00 CET
Report
Stadium: Ménfői úti Stadion
Referee: Réka Molnar (Hungary)
31 May 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Scotland  v  Israel Scotland
Report
4 June 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Israel  v  Scotland [note 5]
Report
12 July 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Serbia  v  Israel Serbia
Report
16 July 2025 Euro 2025 qualifying GS Israel  v  Slovakia [note 5]
Report

Coaching staff[edit]

Current coaching staff[edit]

Position Name
Head coach Israel Erez Belfer
Assistant coach Israel Michal Lurie
Assistant coach Israel Arik Levi
Assistant coach Israel Dana Kerem
Goalkeeping coach Israel Gil Dudi
Physical coach Israel Ran Goldig

Manager history[edit]

Players[edit]

See also: Category:Israel women's international footballers

Current squad[edit]

Caps and goals are current as of 9 April 2024 after the match against Serbia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Lama Ganame (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 24) 1 0 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva
18 1GK Agam Haviv (2005-01-27) 27 January 2005 (age 19) 0 0 France Bordeaux
23 1GK Fortuna Rubin (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 27) 13 0 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva
4 2DF Irena Kuznetsov (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 21) 18 1 Germany Turbine Potsdam
5 2DF Elianna Beard (1996-05-23) 23 May 1996 (age 27) 5 0 Israel Kiryat Gat
6 2DF Shahar Nakav (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 (age 27) 44 0 Israel Kiryat Gat
8 2DF Shani David (1991-06-07) 7 June 1991 (age 32) 40 0 Israel ASA Tel Aviv
17 2DF Meytal Sharabi (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) 17 2 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva
20 2DF Keren Or Edri (2003-06-06) 6 June 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Israel Kiryat Gat
2DF Reut Revaha (2000-05-21) 21 May 2000 (age 23) 4 0 Israel Kiryat Gat
2 3MF Batoul Khalil (2004-05-23) 23 May 2004 (age 19) 3 0 Israel Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem
3 3MF Opal Sofer (1997-05-20) 20 May 1997 (age 26) 15 1 Israel Kiryat Gat
10 3MF Eden Avital (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) 42 5 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva
11 3MF Noa Selimhodzic (2003-10-15) 15 October 2003 (age 20) 25 4 Germany Turbine Potsdam
12 3MF Hadas Morin (1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 24) 3 0 United States Alabama–Huntsville Chargers
14 3MF Marian Awad (1996-10-29) 29 October 1996 (age 27) 32 4 Turkey Fomget Gençlik
15 3MF Vital Kats (1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 (age 24) 9 2 Israel Kiryat Gat
21 3MF Maya Chitman (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 24) 11 0 Israel Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem
7 4FW Koral Hazan (1999-01-17) 17 January 1999 (age 25) 21 2 Spain Tenerife B
9 4FW Rachel Steinschneider (1994-02-10) 10 February 1994 (age 30) 25 3 Israel Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem
13 4FW Talia Sommer (2004-02-19) 19 February 2004 (age 20) 19 2 United States Butler Bulldogs
16 4FW Shira Elinav (2000-04-26) 26 April 2000 (age 23) 17 3 United States Kansas Jayhawks
19 4FW Maria Almasri (2004-03-14) 14 March 2004 (age 20) 8 1 Germany Turbine Potsdam
22 4FW Sharon Beck (captain) (1995-03-22) 22 March 1995 (age 29) 20 10 Germany 1. FC Köln

Recent call ups[edit]

  • The following players received a call-up within the last twelve months.
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mariana Vodolzov (2006-04-24) 24 April 2006 (age 17) 0 0 Israel Bnot Netanya v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
GK Marom Keren (1995-10-10) 10 October 1995 (age 28) 1 0 Israel Maccabi Kishronot Hadera v.  Estonia, 26 September 2023
DF Noam Achtel (1996-04-16) 16 April 1996 (age 28) 17 0 Israel ASA Tel Aviv v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
DF Itaf Alkisi (2001-10-01) 1 October 2001 (age 22) 4 0 Israel Kiryat Gat v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
DF Yahli Cohen (2002-01-28) 28 January 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Israel Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
DF Asia Derksan (2004-09-20) 20 September 2004 (age 19) 2 0 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
DF Tal Faingezicht (2001-05-11) 11 May 2001 (age 22) 1 0 United States Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
DF Rania Rashed (1997-12-09) 9 December 1997 (age 26) 0 0 Israel Maccabi Kishronot Hadera v.  Estonia, 26 September 2023
DF Hili Shalom (2003-04-28) 28 April 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Israel Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem v.  Hungary, 11 April 2023
MF Karin Sendel (1988-10-26) 26 October 1988 (age 35) 69 1 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
MF Michaela Worko (2006-10-12) 12 October 2006 (age 17) 3 0 Israel Kiryat Gat v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
MF Hunter More (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 23) 3 0 Israel Kiryat Gat v.  Hungary, 11 April 2023
FW Hodaya Biton (2002-04-14) 14 April 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Israel Maccabi Kishronot Hadera v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023
FW Adi Goulden (2007-03-05) 5 March 2007 (age 17) 2 0 Israel Hapoel Ra'anana v.  Estonia, 5 December 2023

Records[edit]

See also: Category:Israel women's international footballers
  • Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 25 November 2021.

Competitive record[edit]

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 did not enter — — — — — —
Sweden 1995 — — — — — —
United States 1999 did not qualify 8 1 0 7 6 31
United States 2003 8 4 1 3 12 14
China 2007 6 4 1 1 11 6
Germany 2011 8 2 0 6 4 20
Canada 2015 10 4 0 6 9 27
France 2019 11 2 2 7 9 23
Australia New Zealand 2023 10 3 0 7 7 25
2027 to be determined to be determined
Total — — — — — — — — 61 20 4 37 58 146
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

Israel was entered into the UEFA Group 8 qualifying round, finishing in fourth place.[19][20]

Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Romania 8 5 3 0 30 6 +24 18
 Slovakia 8 5 2 1 33 5 +28 17
 Hungary 8 5 1 2 32 9 +23 16
 Israel 8 1 0 7 6 31 −25 3
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 1 0 7 5 55 −50 3
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Israel 0–7 Romania
Israel 0–4 Slovakia
Israel 5–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Slovakia 5–0 Israel
Hungary 5–0 Israel
Israel 0–2 Hungary
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4–1 Israel
Romania 4–0 Israel
2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

Israel was entered into the UEFA Group 7 qualifying round, finishing in third place.[21][22]

Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Poland 8 8 0 0 25 1 +24 24
 Croatia 8 4 1 3 16 11 +5 13
 Israel 8 4 1 3 12 14 −2 13
 Romania 8 2 2 4 18 13 +5 8
 Estonia 8 0 0 8 4 36 −32 0
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Estonia 2–5 Israel
Mletsin 87'
Morkovkina 89'		 Jan 28', 35', 38', 51'
Shenar 32'
Croatia 4–0 Israel
Jakšić 27', 89'
Kozić 38'
Kovač 47'
Israel 1–0 Romania
Jan 9'
Israel 0–2 Poland
Poland 4–0 Israel
Poland
Romania 1–1 Israel
Israel 3–0 Estonia
Didich 48' (pen.)
Jan 71'
Shenar 90'
Israel 2–1 Croatia
Ozeri 5'
Didich 88'		 Kovač 2'
2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

Israel was entered into the UEFA Group 8 qualifying round, finishing in third place.[23]

In addition to Israel competing, Israeli referee Rachel Cohen worked the Group 3 match between Belgium and Finland,[24] and Group 4 between Republic of Ireland and Scotland.[25]

Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Wales 6 4 2 0 17 2 +15 14
 Israel 6 4 1 1 11 6 +5 13
 Estonia 6 1 1 4 6 18 −12 4
 Moldova 6 1 0 5 5 13 −8 3
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Estonia 2–5 Israel
Morkovkina 19', 39' Jan 12', 20', 54'
Shino 70'
Shenar 90+3'
Attendance: 200
Referee: De Boeck (Belgium)
Israel 2–0 Moldova
Dayan 90+2'
Cohen 90+3'
Attendance: 200
Referee: Remy (France)
Wales 1–1 Israel
Israel 1–0 Estonia
Moldova 0–1 Israel
Israel 1–3 Wales
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

Israel was entered into the UEFA Group 6 qualifying round, finishing in fourth place.

In addition to Israel competing, Israeli referee Lilach Asulin worked the Group 1 match between Northern Ireland and Estonia.[27]

Standings
Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Switzerland 8 7 0 1 28 6 +22 21 — 1–2 2–0 6–0 8–0
 Russia 8 6 1 1 30 6 +24 19 0–3 — 3–0 4–0 8–0
 Republic of Ireland 8 4 1 3 12 10 +2 13 1–2 1–1 — 3–0 2–1
 Israel 8 2 0 6 4 24 −20 6 1–2 1–6 0–3 — 1–0
 Kazakhstan 8 0 0 8 4 32 −28 0 2–4 0–6 1–2 0–1 —
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Israel 1–0 Kazakhstan
Erez 42' Report
Referee: Laurence Zeien (Luxembourg)
Israel 1–2 Switzerland
Abbé 76' (o.g.) Report Maendly 55'
Abbé 90+1'
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
Israel 1–6 Russia
Cohen 47' Report Poryadina 10'
Fomina 29', 89'
Savchenkova 62'
Kurochkina 81'
Kozhnikova 85'
Referee: Mihaela Gurdon Bašimamović (Croatia)
Israel 0–3 Republic of Ireland
Report O'Sullivan 32', 52'
O'Brien 81'
Referee: Ann-Helen Østervold (Norway)
Switzerland 6–0 Israel
Abbé 8', 64'
Barqui 14' (o.g.)
Stein 68'
Dickenmann 71'
Crnogorcevic 90+3'		 Report
Referee: Gordana Kuzmanović (Serbia)
Kazakhstan 0–1 Israel
Report Sofer 71'
Referee: Monica Mularczyk (Poland)
Russia 4–0 Israel
Kurochkina 5' (pen.)
Skotnikova 24'
Kozhnikova 31'
Sochneva 80'		 Report
Referee: Alexandra Ihringova (England)
Republic of Ireland 3–0 Israel
O'Sullivan 59', 64', 80' Report
Referee: Elia María Martínez Martínez (Spain)
Roster

Coach: Meir Nachmias

Goalscorers

1 goal

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

Israel competed in the UEFA Group 3 qualifying round, finishing in fourth place.[28]

In addition to Israel competing, Israeli referee Lilach Asulin worked the Group 1 match between Slovenia and Republic of Ireland,[29] Group 4 between Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands,[30] Group 5 between Albania and Belgium,[31] and Group 7 between Bulgaria and Finland.[32]

Standings
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Switzerland 10 9 1 0 53 1 +52 28 Women's World Cup — 3–0 1–1 9–0 9–0 11–0
2  Iceland 10 6 1 3 29 9 +20 19 0–2 — 0–1 3–0 9–1 5–0
3  Denmark 10 5 3 2 25 6 +19 18 0–1 1–1 — 0–1 3–1 8–0
4  Israel 10 4 0 6 9 27 −18 12 0–5 0–1 0–5 — 3–1 2–0
5  Serbia 10 3 1 6 16 34 −18 10 0–7 1–2 1–1 3–0 — 5–0
6  Malta 10 0 0 10 0 55 −55 0 0–5 0–8 0–5 0–3[a] 0–3 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ Israel were awarded a 3–0 win. The match originally ended 2–0 to Israel.
Matches
Israel 2–0 Malta
Sofer 51'
Shelina 60'		 Report
Attendance: 110
Israel 3–1 Serbia
Fridman 26'
Falkon 38'
Sofer 67'		 Report Podovac 3' (pen.)
Attendance: 270
Referee: Marija Kurtes (Germany)
Israel 0–5 Switzerland
Report Humm 6', 28', 36'
Dickenmann 45' (pen.)
Crnogorčević 90+3'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Teodora Albon (Romania)
Israel 0–1 Iceland
Report Brynjarsdóttir 60'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Monika Mularczyk (Poland)
Malta 0–3
Awarded[a]		 Israel
Report M. Fridman 36'
Lavi 60'
Attendance: 157
Referee: Olga Zadinová (Czech Republic)
Switzerland 9–0 Israel
Humm 29'
Kiwic 32'
Bachmann 35', 39'
Moser 37'
Bürki 59', 84', 86'
Abbé 90+1'		 Report
Attendance: 950
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)
Israel 0–5 Denmark
Report Nielsen 35', 86'
Harder 48'
Troelsgaard 56'
Pedersen 90+3'
Attendance: 150
Serbia 3–0 Israel
Smiljković 31', 34'
Bradić 82'		 Report
Attendance: 200
Referee: Aneliya Sinabova (Bulgaria)
Iceland 3–0 Israel
Brynjarsdóttir 2'
Friðriksdóttir 26'
Gunnarsdóttir 90+1'		 Report
Attendance: 622
Denmark 0–1 Israel
Report Falkon 10'
Attendance: 657
Referee: Anastasia Pustovoitova (Russia)
  1. ^ Israel were awarded a 3–0 win. The match originally ended 2–0 to Israel.[33]
Current squad

Coach: Meir Nachmias

Goalscorers

2 goals

1 goal

UEFA Women's Championship[edit]

UEFA Women's Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Denmark 1991 did not enter — — — — — —
Italy 1993 — — — — — —
Germany 1995 — — — — — —
Norway 1997 — — — — — —
Germany 2001 did not qualify 8 2 0 6 5 26
England 2005 6 3 2 1 20 6
Finland 2009 11 3 1 7 12 35
Sweden 2013 8 0 0 8 1 36
Netherlands 2017 6 0 2 4 2 9
England 2022 10 2 1 7 10 30
Total — — — — — — — — 49 10 6 33 50 142
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
2001 UEFA Women's Championship qualifier

Israel was entered into the Group 7 qualifying round, finishing in fourth place.[34][35]

Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Romania 8 7 1 0 34 5 +29 22
 Belarus 8 5 1 2 20 9 +11 16
 Slovakia 8 5 0 3 23 10 +13 15
 Israel 8 2 0 6 5 26 −21 6
 Estonia 8 0 0 8 6 38 −32 0
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Israel 0–5 Belarus
Israel 2–1 Estonia
Israel 0–4 Romania
Israel 0–5 Slovakia
Slovakia 4–0 Israel
Romania 5–1 Israel
Estonia 1–2 Israel
Belarus 1–0 Israel
Goalscorers

2 goals

1 goal

2005 UEFA Women's Championship qualifier

Israel was entered into the Group 6 qualifying round, finishing in second place.[36][37]

Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Belarus 6 5 1 0 21 3 +18 16
 Israel 6 3 2 1 20 6 +14 11
 Estonia 6 1 1 4 6 26 −20 4
 Kazakhstan 6 0 2 4 4 16 −12 2
 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Estonia 1–4 Israel
Pajo 34' Report Kochen 10'
Dayan 18'
Jan 44'
Shenar 53'
Kazakhstan 0–0 Israel
Report
Belarus 1–1 Israel
Lis 89' Report Liran 78'
Israel 12–1 Estonia
Israel 6'
Didich 12'
Ohana 29', 65', 76'
Jan 46', 62', 68', 71', 84'
Dayan 49', 66'		 Report Vaher 69'
Israel 3–1 Kazakhstan
Fahima 23'
Jan 44' (pen.)
Dayan 56'		 Report Yalova 38'
Israel 0–2 Belarus
Report Kuzniatsova 42', 90+2'
Goalscorers

7 goals

4 goals

3 goals

1 goal

2009 UEFA Women's Championship qualifier
Preliminary round – Group A2
Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Israel 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 9
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 7 7 0 4
 Armenia 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
 Latvia 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: [citation needed]
Matches
Israel 3–0 Latvia
Gian 28'
Fhima 32'
Shenar 70'		 Report
Referee: Berta Tavares (Portugal)
Israel 1–0 Armenia
Shenar 5' Report
Referee: Berta Tavares (Portugal)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–5 Israel
Škrbić 27'
Fetahović 46'		 Report Gian 13'
Shenar 23', 40', 81', 89'
Referee: Silvia Spinelli (Italy)
Goalscorers

6 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Qualifying stage – Group 6
Standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Norway 8 7 1 0 26 0 +26 22
 Russia 8 6 1 1 25 7 +18 19
 Austria 8 3 0 5 13 18 −5 9
 Poland 8 2 1 5 11 20 −9 7