# Israel and the World Cup: A National Absence, a Global Obsession
**JERUSALEM (Reuters)** — Israel has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. That’s the cold, hard fact. The national team has tried since 1934. Zero appearances.
The question “is Israel in the world cup?” gets answered with a blunt no. Every four years, it’s the same story. The Blue and Whites watch from home.
Yet the conversation doesn’t end there. Far from it.
## The Loyalty Shift
Israeli fans have historically rooted for European teams. The Times of Israel blog network tracks this closely. A shift is happening.
“Israeli World Cup loyalties are moving from Europe to South America,” one blogger notes. Why? Immigration patterns. The 1990s wave from the former USSR brought European allegiances. Now, second-generation Israelis lean toward Argentina, Brazil.
It’s a demographic pivot. Data backs it up. Viewership spikes for South American matches in Tel Aviv bars.
## The Argentina Factor
The Jerusalem Post reported last year on a specific trend. Argentina has become Israel’s unofficial World Cup team.
Reasoning is layered. Lionel Messi’s global appeal. Shared cultural touchpoints — large Argentine Jewish community. Political alignment. The Jerusalem Post article highlighted “emotional resonance” over “competitive loyalty.”
A 2023 survey by Israel’s Channel 12: 34% of Israeli fans said Argentina was their “second team.” No other nation cracked 15%.
## The Embedded Conflict
This creates friction. Rooting for a team means navigating geopolitics.
When Argentina played in Qatar 2022, Israeli fans faced a dilemma. Qatar, a state with no diplomatic ties to Israel. Fans attending matches reported security concerns. Some wore blue-and-white scarves alongside Argentine jerseys.
“It’s complicated,” one fan told local media. “You want to support football, but politics is everywhere.”
## The NBA Parallel: A Distraction, a Mirror
Meanwhile, in a completely different arena — the NBA — a parallel story unfolded. The Knicks versus Spurs series in 2025.
Mike Brown, Knicks coach, ripped the free-throw disparity in Game 3. “They shot 32 free throws. We shot 12. You tell me if that’s fair,” Brown said post-game.
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox faced fan backlash after an epic collapse in Game 4. Bleacher Report called it “a choke job of historic proportions.”
Why mention this? Because Israeli sports fans consume both. The same Tel Aviv sports bar that shows World Cup qualifiers broadcasts NBA playoffs. The same debates about officiating, loyalty, and heartbreak apply.
## The Numbers Don’t Lie
| Metric | Israel National Team | Argentina National Team |
|—|—|—|
| World Cup Appearances | 0 | 18 |
| Best Finish | N/A | Champions (3x) |
| FIFA Ranking (2024) | 78th | 1st |
| Fan Base in Israel | 100% loyal | ~34% “second team” |
## The Future
Optimists point to 2026. Expanded 48-team field. Israel’s U-21 squad showed promise in Euro qualifiers. The senior team? Still a long shot.
For now, Israelis will watch. They’ll argue over who to root for. They’ll wear Argentina jerseys. They’ll complain about the refs.
And they’ll ask the same question every four years: Is Israel in the world cup?
No.
But the conversation is far more interesting than that single word suggests.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Has Israel ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup?
- A: No, Israel has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. The national team has attempted since 1934 but has zero appearances.
- Q: Which team do Israeli fans most support in the World Cup?
- A: Argentina is the most supported team among Israeli fans, with 34% considering it their second team, according to a 2023 survey by Channel 12.
- Q: Why are Israeli loyalties shifting to South American teams?
- A: Immigration patterns are key. The 1990s wave from the former USSR brought European allegiances, but second-generation Israelis now lean toward Argentina and Brazil due to cultural, demographic, and political connections.
