Shalom,

This month, all eyes are focused on the screen watching the FIFA Soccer World Cup (גְּבִיעַ הָעוֹלָם בַּכַּדּוּרֶגֶל, Gevi’a ha’Olam baKaduregel), known in Israel in its Spanish term: Mundial (מוֹנְדְּיָאל). As the Mundial is considered the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, it is a good opportunity for us to read about soccer in Israel and to learn some Soccer terms in Hebrew.
Soccer has a long and rich tradition in Israel. The game was originally introduced during the time of the British Mandate in the first half of the 20th century. The Israeli national team's first game as a team of an independent nation was on September 26, 1948, against the United States (result: 3–1 USA). The team made it to the Olympics twice (1968, 1976) and to the Mundial once (Mexico, 1970). Soccer is the most popular sport in Israel and the local league, as well as the international games attract lots of enthusiastic and passionate crowds.

בְּהַצְלָחָה!
Behatslaxa!
Good luck!

שִׁירָה כֹּהֵן-רֶגֶב
Shira Cohen-Regev
The HebrewOnline Team