Israel’s national footvolley stars, Ron Ben Yishai and Maor Haas, made history once again, capturing the European Footvolley Championship title in Stuttgart, Germany. The Israeli duo defeated a German pair in straight sets (18–10, 18–11) to claim their fourth career European title, and third in a row.
Ben Yishai and Haas are also reigning champions of the “Ya’az” Tel Aviv–Jaffa Footvolley League. They will now return home to compete in the upcoming domestic season, set to begin Saturday, July 12.
The start of the league was postponed due to the Israel-Hamas military campaign, but will now run weekly through August 16, with additional Thursday matches scheduled to make up for the delay.
Footvolley, a sport that blends elements of soccer and beach volleyball, originated on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach in the 1960s. It arrived in Israel in the early 2000s, and the Israeli Footvolley Association was established in 2011.
The Ya’az League, held on Tel Aviv’s iconic Frishman Beach, is organized by the Israeli Footvolley Association in cooperation with the Tel Aviv–Jaffa Municipality and Ya’az Development and Construction, the league’s main sponsor. Dozens of Israeli and international athletes are expected to take part, and the games will be broadcast live on Sport5.
The league will pay tribute Doron Malka and Dorin Atias
This season, the competition promises to be tighter than ever. Ben Yishai and Haas, who have also been Israel’s national champions for the past three years, will face tough opposition from top-tier Brazilian imports such as Renan, Pablo, Dias, and Paulinho. Rising local stars like “Lilush” Liberman, Dean Shaked, and veteran Dudu Tubi will also compete.
The league will also pay tribute to Doron Malka and Dorin Atias, two beloved footvolley players who were murdered in the October 7 Nova music festival massacre. In their memory, each matchday will feature calls for the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Deputy Tel Aviv–Jaffa Mayor Tzipi Brand, who oversees the city’s beaches and parks, said: “We’re proud to make Tel Aviv’s coastline a hub for sports, community, and accessibility. The Ya’az Footvolley League is part of our larger initiative to promote beach sports across the city. Just this year, we’ve added dozens of free-use volleyball and footvolley nets along the shoreline.”
Ya’az Development and Construction CEO Tomer Reifman, a former national footvolley champion and pioneer of the sport in Israel, expressed pride in supporting the league.
“This is a sport that combines elite competition with community spirit. We’re honored to contribute to its growth here in Tel Aviv.”