Notes  

Yugoslavia 6–0 Israel 

References (Belgrade, Yugoslavia; 21 August 1949)

 Italy 6–0 Israel 

External links
(Turin, Italy; 4 November 1961)

 Germany 7–1 Israel 

History (Kaiserslautern, Germany; 13 February 2002)

World Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 1970)
Early history
Best result Group stage (1970)
Football has a long tradition in Israel. The game was originally introduced Asian Cup
during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Palestinian Football Association Appearances 4 (first in 1956)
was formed in August 1928, and joined FIFA in June 1929, but at the time
the association was made up of Arab clubs, Jewish clubs, and clubs Best result Champions (1964)
representing British policemen and soldiers serving in the region during the Asian Games
British Mandate rule that spanned the period between World War I and the Appearances 2 (first in 1958)
creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The British Mandate of Palestine
national team made its debut against Cairo (Egypt) in 1934 FIFA World Cup Best result Silver Medal (1974)
qualification, losing 0–5 in Cairo, Egypt. The team played five international Medal record
matches, including a friendly match against Lebanon that Israel won 1–5;
AFC Asian Cup
until the British Mandate for Palestine national team was dissolved. During
those five games, the national team fielded only Jewish players. Three 1956 Hong Kong Team
anthems were played before each match: the British "God Save the King", the 1960 South Korea Team
Jewish (and future Israeli) "Hatikvah", and the opposing team's anthem.[3]
1964 Israel Team
In 1948 the team became, officially, the national football team of (the State 1968 Iran Team
of) Israel.[4] The Israel national team's first match as an independent nation Asian Games
was on 26 September 1948, against the US Olympic Team. The game was
1974 Iran Team
won by the US 1–3, and in the 20th minute of the game Shmuel Ben-Dror
scored the first goal after the creation of the State of Israel.

Asian Football Confederation membership

Muslim and Arab countries boycotting Israel

Israel winning the 1964 AFC Asian Cup
Israel was one of the founding members of the AFC (Asian Football
Confederation) following its own independence in 1948 (prior to that it played
under the banner of the "British Mandate of Palestine".[5] After the 1974 Asian
Games in Iran, and Israel's 0–1 tense loss to Iran in the finals,[6] Kuwait and
other Muslim and Arab countries refused to play them. Following this, Israel
were expelled from the confederation and spent a few years trying to qualify
from such continental bodies as the OFC (Oceania), before eventually joining
UEFA (Europe) officially.[7]

Israel's last years in the AFC

Israel competed at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) between 1954 and 1974. Due to the Arab League boycott of
Israel, several Muslim countries refused to compete against Israel. The political situation culminated in Israel winning the
1958 World Cup qualifying stage for Asia and Africa without playing a single game, forcing FIFA to schedule a playoff
between Israel and Wales to ensure the team did not qualify without playing at least one game (which Wales won).

Israel hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.

In 1968, Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarterfinals.

In 1969, Israel qualified for its first and only FIFA World Cup, via Asia/Oceania. Israel earned two points after a 1–1 draw
with Sweden, a 0–0 draw with eventual finalist Italy, and a 0–2 loss to Uruguay. The goal against Sweden, scored by
Mordechai Spiegler, is Israel's only FIFA World Cup goal to date.

In 1974, Israel was excluded from AFC competitions, as a result of a proposal by Kuwait (as other Muslim and Arab
countries refused to play against Israel), that was adopted by a vote of 17 to 13 with 6 abstentions.[8][7] The vote coincided
with the 1974 Asian Games, where the football competition was marred by the refusal of both North Korea[9] and Kuwait to
play second-round matches against Israel.