The Israel Olympic football team (Hebrew: נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל האולימפית, also known as Israel under-23 national football team) represents Israel in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The team is one of the Israeli youth football teams, and is only constituted when Israel qualifies for a Summer Olympics Games.
Previously, the Israel national team competed in two Olympic Games, in 1968 and 1976, reaching the quarter-final in both times. Since age limit has been set for participants under the age of 23 starting from the 1992 Olympic Games, Israel had experienced a long absence from the Olympic football tournament, failing to qualify.[3]
In the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Israel U21 reached the quarter-finals and then defeat the host Georgia 4-3 in a penalty shootout after 0-0 after 120 minutes, thus advancing to the semi-finals for the first time in its history.[4] This achievement also helped secure the team's qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games.[3][5]
2024 Summer Olympics
For the draw, Israel were in Pot 4 with Dominican Republic, Ukraine and Guinea. Israel was drawn to Group D with Japan, Paraguay and Mali. Its opening match of the tournament was against Mali and finished 1-1. The second match was a 4-2 loss to Paraguay with Omri Gandelman and Oscar Gloukh scoring the goals for Israel.[6] Needing to defeat Japan to have any chance to advance, Israel conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 and so finished last in its group. Israel finished 15th at the tournament, just ahead of Guinea.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of all match results, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
^Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs publication The Flag and the EmblemArchived 2007-04-17 at the Wayback Machine by art historian Alec Mishory, wherein he quotes "The Provisional Council of State Proclamation of the Flag of the State of Israel" made on 28 October 1948 by Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker.
