Sports
Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka, legendary Chicago Bears coach, dies at 86
The Hall of Fame player and fiery head coach led the Chicago Bears to their only Super Bowl title after a dominant 1985 season; remembered as ‘Da Coach,’ Ditka became a cultural icon whose influence extended far beyond American football
News Agencies | 18:34 | 10.09.26
רונאלדו ואמו
'They don't appreciate him': Cristiano Ronaldo's mother lashes out at Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, says she cried after her son left Portugal's national team camp, criticizing the country's treatment of the star despite his years of service: 'They don't appreciate him the way they should'
ynet | 09:42 | 10.09.26
פרימו
Kerem Primo storms to silver, wins Israel’s first Judo Worlds medal
Israeli 21-year-old delivers career-best run in Baku, stunning world No. 2 on her way to the final and claiming Israel’s first medal of the championships
Stav Ifargan | 18:28 | 10.07.26
Peter Paltchik with athletes supported by the Paltchik Foundation
For Israel’s Olympic hopefuls, the road to the podium comes with a price
Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik’s foundation supports 10 young Israeli athletes with financial backing aimed at easing the cost of elite competition and helping them pursue Olympic ambitions
ynet Global | 20:36 | 10.06.26
נימן
Chess world’s most controversial figure heads to Jerusalem for record-prize Masters
Hans Niemann will return to Israel four years after his explosive clash with Magnus Carlsen, joining fellow American grandmaster Wesley So in a $250,000 rapid-chess tournament
ynet | 10:57 | 10.06.26
אירלנד ישראל
Ireland players bow heads during Israeli anthem again as Israel honors Oct. 7 victims
Irish players repeat protest from previous meeting as Israel wears black armbands for Oct. 7 victims; UEFA approved the tribute three days before the massacre’s memorial day
ynet | 22:30 | 10.04.26
IndyCar racing feels more human than Formula 1 — and it's just as fast
Open-wheel car racing combines near-400 kph speeds with tighter competition, lower costs and unusually close access to drivers, offering a more personal alternative to Formula 1 without sacrificing the spectacle
Eliasaph Deuel | 08:20 | 10.01.26
יונאן בדארנה ענאן חלאילי
One family, two national teams: Khalaili brothers play for Israel, cousin represents Palestine
While Crystal Palace’s Anan Khalaili and younger brother Iyad wear Israel’s colors, their 16-year-old cousin Yunan Badarne, an Israeli-born British citizen raised in Manchester, is playing for Palestine’s U17 side after his father says approaches to Israel went unanswered
Nadav Zenziper | 03:28 | 10.01.26
סוסים
Racehorse wins debut, then loses name over Hitler reference
Owner said ‘Austrian Painter’ honored Gustav Klimt, but earlier proposed ‘My Struggle’ and a name referencing Hitler’s birthplace; horse’s sister, New Order, also loses her registered name
Daniel Edelson, New York | 20:09 | 09.28.26
נמר
NBA star Deni Avdija gets a namesake: a Persian leopard at Ramat Gan Safari
Two-year-old leopard arrived from Sweden and will gradually be introduced to Noa, named after Israeli pop star Noa Kirel, as part of a European breeding program for the endangered subspecies
Ilana Curiel | 13:02 | 09.28.26
פין עזאז
Finn Azaz’s Israeli roots put Ireland star at center of storm before Israel match
Southampton midfielder, whose maternal grandfather was Israeli sculptor Nehemia Azaz, reportedly presented Israel’s perspective during tense internal team discussions as some players weighed whether to take part in the Nations League match in Debrecen
ynet | 16:40 | 09.27.26
נבחרת אירלנד
UEFA pressure helped avert Irish boycott of Israel Nations League match
Israeli officials say UEFA warned Ireland of fines, possible competition bans and Euro 2028 risks; players ultimately voted to face Israel
Nadav Zenziper | 10:34 | 09.27.26
אליפות העולם באקרובטיקה
Israel tops Russia, US to win team gold at Acrobatic Gymnastics Worlds
Israel won Team Award gold at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in Pesaro with 88 points, ahead of Russia and the US, while also securing a string of berths in the pairs, trios and groups finals
Nadav Zenziper | 18:29 | 09.26.26
נבחרת אירלנד
Ireland goalkeeper refuses to face Israel as teammates weigh joining boycott
The Irish Independent reports Gavin Bazunu told the federation he will not play Israel on Sunday; training was delayed, a news conference canceled and talks with players continue
Nadav Zenziper | 14:11 | 09.26.26
מעודדות
Cheerleading officially recognized as sport in Israel
Three years after taking root in Israel, cheerleading now boasts 15 clubs; national organization gains recognition as sport’s official international representative
ynet | 15:43 | 09.25.26
סייד אבו פרחי חוגג עם דגל הקרן
Israeli soccer star sent off as ‘gunfire’ celebration makes global headlines
Sayed Abu Farchi scores first Israel goal against Austria, then sees red for signature snooker celebration widely portrayed as shooting gesture; coach says young forward ‘will learn’
ynet | 09:23 | 09.25.26
Bob Pettit
Bob Pettit, NBA legend and league's first MVP, dies at 93
Hall of Famer was an All-Star in all 11 NBA seasons, won two MVP awards and led St. Louis past Bill Russell’s Celtics for the franchise’s only championship
Associated Press | 04:08 | 09.25.26
רונאלדו
Ronaldo says considered retirement from international soccer after World Cup exit
The 41-year-old phenomenon is set to start for Portugal against Wales in their Nations League opener and responds to criticism at home: ‘I will retire when I feel that I am no longer doing anything here’
ynet | 18:00 | 09.24.26
ממדאני ואוהדי אירלנד
After attacking Netanyahu, Mamdani praises Irish anti-Israel stance amid boycott calls
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin whether he would encourage fans to boycott Sunday’s Nations League game against Israel; he praised Ireland for extending its commitment to ‘human rights’ to Palestinians but said the decision was theirs
Daniel Edelson, New York | 12:30 | 09.24.26
וויין רוני
Wayne Rooney reveals Jewish roots as family visits Auschwitz
Former Manchester United and England star says his maternal grandmother’s family were Polish Jews as new Disney+ series follows his family to Krakow and Auschwitz
ynet | 10:56 | 09.24.26
שחקני נבחרת ישראל
UEFA labels Austria-Israel clash ‘high risk’ as Linz braces for protests and tight security
Austrian authorities are preparing a special operation for Thursday’s Nations League match, with two demonstrations registered, UEFA sending security officers and Israeli personnel assisting local organizers
ynet | 11:44 | 09.23.26
מאמן נבחרת ישראל רן בן שמעון עם אלי דסה
Israel to skip Ireland gala amid boycott calls and protests
Israel’s national soccer team will skip the traditional pre-match gala ahead of games against Ireland, citing fears of further protests and political statements following calls for a boycott and remarks by Ireland’s coach
Nadav Zenziper | 02:36 | 09.23.26
אירלנד הפגנות נגד ביקורו של נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ
‘Don’t play’: pressure grows on Ireland to cancel matches against Israel
About 100 protesters gather outside Ireland’s team hotel as The Irish Times urges the soccer association to follow RTE’s Eurovision boycott; coach Heimir Hallgrimsson accuses Israel of ‘genocide,’ prompting a furious Israeli FA response
ynet | 11:33 | 09.22.26
אוהדי נבחרת אירלנד
Irish athletes urge national team to refuse Israel Nations League matches
More than 160 Irish athletes urged the national team to boycott upcoming Nations League matches against Israel, though Ireland’s football association said the games will go ahead in Hungary and Serbia
ynet | 03:56 | 09.22.26
החולצה המדוברת
‘United 93’ soccer shirt sparks 9/11 backlash in England
Oxford United launched a 'United 93' clothing line marking its 1893 founding, but pulled it after backlash over the Flight 93 association with 9/11; the club apologized: 'We take full responsibility'
ynet | 12:40 | 09.19.26
תנין נח מחוץ למים
500 crocodiles live in river approved for rowing at Brisbane 2032 Olympics
Fitzroy River in Queensland passes technical review despite hundreds of saltwater crocodiles; organizers say emergency procedures are already in place
ynet | 03:01 | 09.18.26
מודי מאור
Israeli coach Mody Maor joins Dallas Mavericks as assistant
The 40-year-old follows head coach Dusty May from Michigan to the NBA after leading Japan’s Nagasaki Velca to its first championship, capping a coaching rise that also included stops in Israel and New Zealand
ynet | 11:43 | 09.17.26
רוברט קראפט
Jewish NFL team owner blocks Macklemore from performing over 'antisemitic remarks'
Robert Kraft says he objected to the rapper opening for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium following his anti-Israel remarks including accusation of 'genocide'; Macklemore claims the move led to his removal from the entire tour: 'Criticizing Israel is not criticizing Jews'
ynet | 22:39 | 09.15.26
דני אבדיה וקייל קוזמה
NBA star Kyle Kuzma says Palestinian freedom must include ‘freedom from Hamas’
Milwaukee Bucks forward responds to a pro-Palestinian rally in Mexico by calling for freedom from Hamas, Iranian-backed terror and leaders who use civilians as shields
ynet | 10:48 | 09.15.26
2027 could be the year autonomous cars finally take off — but China may get there first
After more than $100 billion in investment and a string of costly failures, experts say advances in Physical AI, radar, lidar and simulation could finally push autonomous vehicles toward wider adoption, with China moving faster than Western markets
Tal Shahaf | 10:45 | 09.15.26
שטיינברג
Tamar Steinberg wins world title, Sharon Kantor silver in historic Israeli iQFOiL sweep
Steinberg caps a dominant week in England to win gold ahead of teammate Kantor, with Daniela Peleg fourth; Paris Olympic champion Tom Reuveny misses the men’s final after his semifinal is rerun over a race issue
Nadav Zenziper | 16:29 | 09.12.26
יצחק אשפיז בטורניר בטיביליסי
Israeli judoka Yitzhak Ashpiz strikes gold at Budapest Grand Slam
Israeli judoka Izhak Ashpiz won gold in the under-60 kg division at the Budapest Grand Slam after five straight victories, capping his return from injury; 'A great gift for me and for the country,' he said
Stav Ifargan | 21:14 | 09.11.26
These were Israel's biggest sports moments this year
From Artem Dolgopyat’s third European title to Deni Avdija’s NBA All-Star appearance and Israel’s U20 women winning EuroBasket silver, three standout achievements defined a remarkable year for Israeli sports
Ra'anan Weiss, Eliasaph Deuel, Yair Kattan | 06:17 | 09.10.26
קני קנינגהאם במדי נבחרת אירלנד
‘It advances nothing’: ex-Ireland captain slams decision to move Israel match from Dublin
Kenny Cunningham says Ireland should have hosted Israel at Aviva Stadium, arguing fans could respect the Israeli anthem and October 7 victims without endorsing the government
ynet | 11:56 | 09.08.26
לברון
Barkley on LeBron: 'Just because you’re putting up good numbers, doesn’t mean you’re effective'
LeBron James will enter his 24th season in the NBA at the age of 42, and is still considered one of the league's greatest stars; but NBA legend Charles Barkley is not impressed by the claim that King James has 'beaten Father Time'
ynet | 21:39 | 09.06.26
האחים סיאן וג'ורדן אדאמס
Brothers facing dementia diagnosis race to raise awareness and find a cure
Jordan and Cian Adams watched their mother die of dementia at 52, then learned they face a 99.99% risk of the same fate; they turned to marathons, a fridge-on-the-back challenge and Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and reclaim hope
Zeev Avrahami | 07:57 | 09.05.26
Gianni Infantino
Gianni Infantino promised to clean up FIFA. Now money, Trump ties and a secret deal put him under scrutiny
Private jets linked to oligarchs, expenses funded by Qatar, a six-figure settlement involving a former lover and a secret plan to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights have renewed questions over the FIFA president’s decade in power
Tzippy Shmilovitz | 01:59 | 09.05.26
מחאה פרו פלסטינית בצפון אירלנד
Northern Ireland club bars Israeli triathletes over ‘Palestinian suffering’
Four Israeli triathletes were barred from a European Cup event in Northern Ireland after the local club said it opposed Israel’s representation in international sport, citing Palestinian suffering
ynet | 10:20 | 09.04.26
תומר מן
At 3, he beat cancer; At 10, he plans to swim across the Sea of Galilee
Seven years after beating a rare, aggressive cancer, 10-year-old Tomer Man is taking on a new challenge: swimming 1.5 kilometers across the Sea of Galilee; 'In the water, I can do anything,' he says
Israel Moshkovitz | 08:25 | 09.04.26
דגל נאצי בקרב אמנויות לחימה
Neo-Nazi fighter gives Nazi salute, insults Jewish opponent after beating him at Orlando MMA event
Paul Nicholas Miller also hurled an antisemitic slur at Israeli-American Ben Azoulay as a swastika flag appeared in the stands, prompting condemnation from local officials
Daniel Edelson, New York | 11:02 | 09.03.26
לנארד
$30M fine, 5 first-round picks: NBA hits Clippers with historic penalties over Kawhi salary-cap case
League suspends owner Steve Ballmer for a year after probe finds Clippers helped arrange outside deals for Leonard to avoid affecting the salary cap
Daniel Edelson, New York | 07:40 | 09.03.26
אמבאפה
Kylian Mbappé targeted in alleged French kidnapping plot run from prison
Le Parisien says an 18-year-old French-Swiss suspect used Snapchat from jail to direct a network that allegedly marked footballers, rappers and wealthy business figures for abduction
ynet | 16:59 | 09.02.26
סייד אבו פרחי חתם בקולרדו רפידס
Israeli striker joins Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids
Sayed Abu Farkhi  becomes the eighth Israeli soccer player in the MLS; Colorado Rapids coach Matt Wells: 'He fits exactly the model of players we want to sign — young and hungry players who want to achieve big things in soccer'
ynet | 02:23 | 09.02.26
Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina national team
The 39-year-old leaves as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer after captaining the team to the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles
News Agencies | 18:18 | 08.31.26
תמיר דודי
He lost an arm in Gaza. Now he is chasing a world surfing medal
Tamir Dudy survived a close-range battle in Jabaliya, underwent 17 surgeries and chose to amputate his right arm; now the IDF officer is training for November’s surfing world championship in California
Shlomi Aharoni | 02:05 | 08.30.26
נבחרת ישראל בכדורסל
Israel says it is ready to host international basketball games again
Israel Basketball Association is asking FIBA ​​to return the national team's games to Israel, beginning with the November window 
Stav Ifargan | 03:12 | 08.28.26
אליסון דוס סנטוס
Alison dos Santos breaks 400m hurdles world record with stunning 45.80
Brazilian star cuts 0.14 seconds from Karsten Warholm’s legendary Tokyo mark in Zurich, becoming the first man to run under 45.90 as the Norwegian finishes second
ynet | 22:41 | 08.27.26
הפרשן ושחקן העבר גארי לינקר
Gary Lineker’s Israel obsession has crossed into antisemitism
Opinion: After repeatedly targeting Israel and sharing material invoking antisemitic tropes, the former England star can no longer hide behind ignorance or apology
Zeev Avrahami | 01:32 | 08.27.26
גלעד ינקלביץ'
Fitness star Gilad Janklowicz’s family reveals he died by suicide
Two months after the fitness icon’s death, his family publicly reveals for the first time that the coroner ruled it a suicide, saying they are still struggling to understand what led to the tragedy
Ran Boker | 17:13 | 08.25.26
מיקי ברקוביץ'
Basketball great Miki Berkovich battling dementia, family says: ‘It’s painful to see him like this’
Miki Berkovich, 72, has been battling dementia for the past two and a half years and now requires close supervision; Family associates say it is painful to see the Israeli basketball legend struggle but that he remains surrounded by love and support
Efrat Amoraban | 00:09 | 08.25.26
מיקי ברקוביץ'
Miki Berkovich, Israeli basketball legend, faces serious health battle
The 72-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv icon has largely remained out of public view as family, friends and former teammates support him through a complex medical condition
Efrat Amoraban | 07:26 | 08.24.26
קופר לוטקנהאוס
Cooper Lutkenhaus Is America's next great hope for Olympic gold
At 17, Cooper Lutkenhaus became the youngest man to win world championship gold; Now 18, the Texas phenom is chasing Olympic glory for the US in the 800 meters, 56 years after its last gold in the event, as a teenage pro.
Tzippy Shmilovitz, New York | 03:56 | 08.24.26
דולגופיאט
Artem Dolgopyat cements status as Israel’s greatest athlete with third European floor title
At 29, Dolgopyat has already won Olympic gold and silver, a world title and three European crowns; after another victory in Zagreb, he says he is still among the best and is now targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Games
ynet | 14:22 | 08.22.26
דולגופיאט
Dolgopyat does it again, captures third European floor exercise gold
Artem Dolgopyat won his third European title in the floor exercise, scoring 14.466 points in Friday's final in Zagreb; The Olympic champion topped the podium again after previous victories in 2020 and 2022
Nadav Zenziper | 20:00 | 08.21.26
השחיין הישראלי תומר שוסטר
Israeli swimming’s next star isn’t slowing down: ‘I’m aiming as high as I can’
At 22, Tomer Shuster has emerged as Israel’s next swimming star, breaking two national records at the European Championships; He says Oct. 7 reshaped his career and now has his sights set on the 2028 Olympics
Stav Ifargan | 21:45 | 08.18.26
רז הרשקו עם מדליית הארד
Judoka Raz Hershko takes bronze at Lima Grand Prix
After two competitions without a medal Israeli judoka won the bronze medal match against Colombia's Brigitte Carabali, after losing in the semifinals to Olympic champion Beatriz Souza of Brazil; team coach Shani Hershko: 'Every return to the podium is important'
Stav Ifargan | 10:16 | 08.17.26
Tommy John
Tommy John, pitcher whose groundbreaking surgery changed baseball, dies at 83
The four-time All-Star returned from an experimental ligament-replacement operation to pitch 14 more seasons, winning 164 games after surgery and giving his name to a procedure that has saved countless careers
AP | 21:16 | 08.16.26
רונאלדו נגד קולומביה
Ronaldo says this season really could be his last
A month after saying goodbye to the World Cup games, the Portuguese soccer phenomenon shares in an interview with 'Vogue' that the upcoming season could be the one that will close his club career: 'I want to leave a spectacular legacy'
ynet | 19:30 | 08.16.26
נבחרת ישראל במהלך המרתון באליפות אירופה
Israeli team takes gold in marathon at the European Athletics Championships
 Israeli long-distance runner Gashau Ayale also reached the podium, winning an individual bronze after clocking 2:09:21; 'I want to dedicate my medal to all the people of Israel. I love you very much'
ynet | 16:33 | 08.16.26
אצטדיון קריית שמונה
‘Nothing is moving’: Kiryat Shmona faces another season in exile as stadium work drags on
Three years without a home field, associated expenses of four million shekels per season and a stalled stadium: The city's team is forced to migrate to the center of the country, the team members do not know if and when they will return home and the renovations are dragging on 
Shimon Elbaz | 08:19 | 08.16.26
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