If there’s one certainty in the world of men’s international flag football, it is that Israel will score points in great numbers. The ninth-ranked team in the world is an offense-first minded team that amassed 50 points or more per game in winning its group at Euro Flag 2025.

Israel arrives in Düsseldorf having finished fifth in last year’s continental championship thanks to a victory over IFAF World Championship bronze medal winner Switzerland having been third place finishers themselves at the 2023 Euros. They came within a point of beating eventual champion Germany back then in Limerick, having beaten France 55-54 in the quarterfinals.

Flag football in Israel has the support of two NFL owners in Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, whose Kraft Family Sports Complex is a jewel in the sport’s crown in Jerusalem, and Zygi Wilf of the Minnesota Vikings whose team welcomed Israel’s U17s to their campus last year.

“I’ve seen go from this really well-kept secret, where there was a small amount of players, a small amount of leagues, to now it being a lot more popular,” said men’s captain and defensive back Daniel Eastman of the sport in Israel.

In Opposition in Düsseldorf

Group A sees Israel matched with world number one and defending champion the United States, Oceania champion Australia and IFAF World Championships newcomer American Samoa.

Israel last met USA in the quarterfinals of the 2018 IFAF World Championships, losing to the eventual winners, but have never faced Australia or American Samoa before on a competitive stage.

Players to Watch

Daniel Eastman, defensive back

IFAF World Championships Pedigree

Israel finished fifth in 2018, beat Spain 59-19 to claim ninth place on home soil in 2021 and having won their group two years ago in Finland, fell at the Round of 16 hurdle to Canada and again came in ninth. Israel is yet to contest a medal game at the IFAF World Championships.

The Coach

Head coach Jonathan Tekac played tackle football at Youngstown State University, where his focus on international business enabled him to study in Mexico and Costa Rica. He later moved to Israel having played in the Arena Football League for the Memphis Xplorers.

Tekac admits his team’s dream is to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.

In Preparation

Israel held a successful training camp in the Red Sea coastal city of Eilat at the end of February and between camps in April and June will evaluate their top talent against some of Europe’s elite players at tournaments across the continent.