About Israel

The Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded on 14 August 1928 in Mandatory Palestine as the Palestine Football Association, gaining provisional FIFA recognition in December 1928 and full membership in 1929. Following Israel's independence in 1948, the association adopted its current name. The IFA initially joined the Asian Football Confederation in 1954 but was expelled in 1974 under political pressure from Arab and Muslim member states.

For nearly two decades the IFA operated without confederation membership, unable to participate in official continental competitions. In 1992 Israel was admitted to UEFA as an associate member, becoming a full member in 1994 — a pivotal development that allowed Israeli clubs and national teams to compete in European tournaments for the first time. Headquartered in Ramat Gan, the IFA organises the Israeli Premier League, the Israel State Cup, and national teams across all age groups and genders.

The association has been the subject of ongoing international controversy related to member clubs operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In 2026, FIFA sanctioned the IFA for discrimination violations, imposing a fine and requiring implementation of anti-discrimination measures, reflecting the continuing intersection of politics and sport in Israeli football.