Promising young soccer players head to Israel for U17 Euro finals
More than 300 soccer players will take part in tournament at stadiums throughout central Israel
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
The U17 Euro finals for under-17 star soccer players kick off in Israel next week, providing an opportunity to view up-and-coming star soccer players, including Italy’s Fabio Chiarodia and Lipana Luca and Portugal’s Rodrigo Ribeiro and João Veloso.
There will be 345 soccer players hosted by Israel for the tournament of 31 games presided over by 30 international referees, at stadiums in Ness Ziona, Lod, Ramat Gan, Netanya and Rishon Lezion.
It’s the third time in ten years that Israel has hosted the tournament, following the U21 in 2013 and 2015’s U19.
The games were canceled for the last two years due to COVID-19. This year’s games will begin May 16.
Israel as host will be joined by 15 teams progressing from the elite round. Group A is composed of Israel, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg; Group B consists of France, Netherlands, Bulgaria and Poland; Group C has Serbia, Spain, Turkey and Belgium; and Group D is made up of Denmark, Portugal, Scotland and Sweden.
The final game of the tournament will take place on June 1 in Netanya. All games cost NIS 10 per ticket and can also be watched online.
There will be a fan zone open to the public on the Tel Aviv beach during the first week of the tournament, with similar spaces set up at each stadium during game days.
