The Israeli football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Israel. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, and allows even the smallest club to dream of rising to the very top of the system. There are five levels, containing a total of 16 divisions. It is run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
Structure The top division of Israeli football is the Premier League, while Liga Leumit is the second tier; these two divisions all operate at the national level.
Below Liga Leumit the divisions are split into regionalised leagues. Liga Alef is the third tier, and is split into north and south divisions. Liga Bet, the fourth tier, is divided into four regionalised leagues. Liga Gimel, the bottom division of Israeli football, is split into eight regionalised leagues.League details Israel Football Association
Level Total clubsLeague/division(s)1 14Israeli Premier League14 clubs2 16Liga Leumit16 clubs336Liga Alef North17 clubsLiga Alef South18 clubs464Liga Bet North A16 clubsLiga Bet North B16 clubsLiga Bet South A16 clubsLiga Bet South B16 clubs5 87Liga Gimel NorthUpper Galilee9 clubsLiga Gimel NorthBay Aera11 clubsLiga Gimel NorthJezreel11 clubsLiga Gimel NorthSamaria10 clubsLiga Gimel SouthDan14 clubsLiga Gimel SouthTel Aviv14 clubsLiga Gimel SouthCentral9 clubsLiga Gimel SouthSouth9 clubs
League structure history League football in Mandatory Palestine began in 1931, and second and third tiers were added to the league as early as 1937. However, football was then disrupted by the Arab revolt and then World War II. In 1947, league football resumed with two tiers, the top Palestine League and the second tier Liga Bet.
Following the Israeli Declaration of Independence and War of Independence, football league action resumed in 1949, with a two-tier league, the second served as a temporary second division, titled Liga Meuhedet (lit. 'Special League'). The following season, league football was cancelled due to disagreements between the Maccabi and Hapoel factions in the IFA. With the return of league football the following season, a third tier was added, and the leagues were assigned as Liga Alef (lit. 'League A'), Liga Bet ('League B') and Liga Gimel ('League C').
In 1955–56, Liga Leumit (lit. 'National League') was created as the new top division, demoting the Alef, Bet and Gimel leagues to the second, third and fourth tiers respectively, with a fifth tier, Liga Dalet (lit. 'Liga D') added for one season in 1958–59, before returning in 1969–70.
In 1976–77, Liga Artzit (lit. 'State League') was created as the new second tier, demoting the Alef, Bet, Gimel and Dalet leagues to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth tiers. Liga Dalet was scrapped at the end of the 1984–85 season, bringing back the league system to five tiers.
In 1999–2000 the Israeli Premier League was added at the top of the league system, demoting the other leagues to second to sixth tiers. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Liga Artzit was scrapped, bringing the league system back to five tiers, and its current structure
League system changes Years 1st tier 2nd tier 3rd tier 4th tier 5th tier 6th tier 1946–1948 Palestine League Liga Bet rowspan=2 rowspan=3 rowspan=4 rowspan=7 1949–1950 Israeli League Liga Meuhedet 1951–1955 Liga Alef Liga Bet Liga Gimel 1955–1958 Liga Leumit Liga Alef Liga Bet Liga Gimel 1958–1959 Liga Dalet 1959–1969 1969–1976 Liga Dalet 1976–1985 Liga Artzit Liga Alef Liga Bet Liga Gimel Liga Dalet 1985–1999 1999–2009 Premier League Liga Leumit Liga Artzit Liga Alef Liga Bet Liga Gimel 2009–present Liga Alef Liga Bet Liga Gimel
Leagues Premier League
The Israeli Premier League (, Ligat HaAl, lit. Super League) is the highest league in Israeli football and has 14 member clubs. Winning the Premier League is the top prize in Israeli football and guarantees a berth in the UEFA Europa League.
The league was created in 1999 as the IFA aimed to realign the leagues to improve competition. Two teams are relegated to Liga Leumit at the end of each season, with two clubs promoted in return.
Current Premier League clubs (2025–26)
Beitar Jerusalem Bnei Sakhnin F.C. Ashdod Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Jerusalem Hapoel Petah Tikva Hapoel Tel Aviv Ironi Kiryat Shmona Ironi Tiberias Maccabi Bnei Reineh Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Netanya Maccabi Tel Aviv
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit (, lit. National League) is the second tier of Israeli football, a position it has held since 1999, having originally been the top division prior to the Premier League's creation. It has 16 member clubs, the team finished first are promoted to the Premier League, The bottom two or three teams are relegated to Liga Alef at the end of each season.
Current Liga Leumit clubs (2025–26)
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. Kafr Qasim F.C. Kiryat Yam Hapoel Acre Hapoel Afula Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Kfar Saba Hapoel Kfar Shalem Hapoel Nof HaGalil Hapoel Ra'anana Hapoel Ramat Gan Hapoel Rishon LeZion Ironi Modi'in Maccabi Herzliya Maccabi Jaffa Maccabi Petah Tikva
Liga Alef
Liga Alef (, lit. A League) is the third tier of Israeli football, a position it has held since 2009. Between 1999 and 2009 it was the fourth tier after Liga Artzit, between 1976 and 1999 it was the third tier after Liga Artzit, between 1955 and 1976 it was the second division, and between 1951 and 1955 it was the first division. Liga Alef consists of two divisions and has 32 member clubs. The divisions are based on the clubs' geographical position in the country and are split into a north and south category. The top club from each division is promoted at the end of the season to Liga Leumit, the bottom two clubs (from each division) are relegated at the end of the season to Liga Bet.
North South F.C. Tira Beitar Yavne Hapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye F.C. Dimona Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot F.C. Jerusalem Hapoel Bnei Araba F.C. Kfar Saba Hapoel Bnei Musmus F.C. Nordia Jerusalem Hapoel Ironi Karmiel F.C. Tzeirei Tira Hapoel Migdal HaEmek Hapoel Azor Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel Hapoel Herzliya Hapoel Umm al-Fahm Hapoel Marmorek Ironi Nesher Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon Maccabi Akhi Nazareth Holon Yermiyahu F.C. Maccabi Ata Bialik Maccabi Ironi Ashdod Maccabi Neve Sha'anan Eldad Maccabi Kiryat GatMaccabi Nujeidat Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi Tzeirei Umm al-Fahm Maccabi Yavne Tzeirei Tamra Shimshon Tel Aviv
Liga Bet
Liga Bet (, lit. B League) is the fourth tier of Israeli football, a position it has held since 2009. Between 1999 and 2009 it was the fifth tier after Liga Alef, Between 1976 and 1999 it was the fourth tier after the creation of Liga Artzit, between 1955 and 1976 it was the third division, and between 1951 and 1955 it was the second division. Liga Bet consists of four divisions and has 64 member clubs. The divisions are based on the clubs' geographical position in the country and are split into two north categories and two south categories. The top club from each division is promoted at the end of the season to the Liga Alef and the bottom two clubs (from each division) are relegated at the end of the season to Liga Gimel.
North A North B South A South B Ahva Kafr Manda F.C. Tzeirei Haifa A.S. Holon Mor Beitar Kiryat Gat Beitar Nahariya Beitar Haifa Beitar Tel Aviv Holon Hapoel Ironi Ashkelon Bnei M.M.B.E. F.C. Bnei Qalansawe F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim Bnei Eilat Bnei Maghar F.C. Kababir F.C. Hapoel Lod Beni Regev F.C. Arad F.C. Shefa-Amr F.C. Mashhad Beitar Kfar Saba F.C. Hapeol Yeruham F.C. Tzeirei Kfar Manda F.C. Or Akiva Beitar Petah Tikva F.C. Hapoel Shaqib al-Salam Hapoel Bnei Bi'ina F.C. Tirat HaCarmel Beitar Ramat Gan F.C. Ramla Hapoel Bnei Ein Mahil Tzeirei Kafr Kanna Bnei Jaljulia F.C. Shikun HaMizrah Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi-Makr F.C. Tzofi Haifa Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan Hapoel Bnei Ashdod Hapoel Deir Hanna Hapeol Yaffa Hapoel Hod HaSharon Ihud Tzeiri Abu Ghosh Hapoel Ihud Bnei Sumei Hapoel Bnei Ar'ara 'Ara Hapoel Kafr Qasim Shouaa Ironi Beit Shemesh Hapoel Kaukab Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel Hapoel Kiryat Ono Maccabi Be'er Sheva Maccabi Abu Snan Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo Hapoel Mahane Yehuda Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov Amit Maccabi Ahva Sha'ab Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jatt Ironi Beit Dagan Maccabi Ironi Netivot Maccabi Bnei Jadeidi-Makr Ihud Bnei Baqa Maccabi Ironi Amishav Petah Tikva F.C. Sderot Maccabi Ihud Bnei Ibtin Maccabi Ahi Iksal Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona Maccabi Sha'arayim
Liga Gimel
Liga Gimel (, lit. C League) is the fifth and bottom tier of Israeli football, a position it has held since 2009. Between 1999 and 2009 it was the sixth tier after Liga Bet, Between 1976 and 1999 it was the fifth tier after the creation of Liga Artzit, between 1955 and 1976 it was the fourth division, and between 1951 and 1955 it was the third division. Liga Gimel consists of eight divisions of varying size. At the start of the 2014–15 season there are a total of 111 member clubs. If they meet criteria laid down by the IFA, the top club from each division is promoted at the end of the season to the Liga Bet. As it is the lowest division, no clubs are relegated.
Football clubs in Israel For a full list of clubs see List of football clubs in Israel.
Other football league systems in Israel Women's League
Ligat Nashim was established in 1999. Until 2010, the league system was played with only the top division (except for 2006–07), sometimes divided regionally. Since 2010, the league has two tiers, both national. Depending on number of registrations, the second division may be divided regionally, but this hadn't happen yet.
At women's youth levels (under 19 and under 17), there is only a top division, divided regionally at both age brackets, with the champion decided using a play-off match.
Noar League
Since 2011, the league had been organized in four tiers. At the top, a national division called Noar Premier League, two regional divisions at tiers 2 and 3 (Noar Leumit League and Noar Artzit League, respectively) and a changing number of regional divisions at the 4th tier, depending on registrations.
References