Liga Leumit (Israel) 2026/27

The second tier of Israeli football carries the name Liga Leumit, which translates to 'The National League'. The Israel Football Association established its current structure in 1999, a year that marked a major reform by creating the Israeli Premier League as the new top flight. Before this split, the title belonged to the first division, while the second tier operated under different names.

The competition features 16 clubs. Teams complete a regular season by playing each other twice, home and away, which totals 30 matches. After this phase, the league divides into two groups. The top eight teams enter a promotion playoff to decide which two sides move up to the Premier League. The bottom eight contest a relegation playoff to determine which clubs drop to Liga Alef. Each team plays 37 matches in total. Relegation is strict: the final two teams are automatically sent down, while the team finishing 14th enters a playoff against the winner of the Liga Alef promotion final.

Attendance at matches reflects the status of the league as a development ground for local talent. The most successful club in the history of the second tier is Maccabi Petah Tikva, who have won seven titles. Hapoel Kfar Saba follows with five. The current champion is Hapoel Tel Aviv. The competition includes clubs such as Ashdod, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Acre, Hapoel Afula, Hapoel Hadera, and Hapoel Kfar Saba.

A League Management Committee was established in 2014 to increase club autonomy. The rules regarding foreign players differ from those in the top flight, where a limit of eight exists. In Liga Leumit, specific quotas are less publicly standardized in general sources. The league serves as a stepping stone for clubs aiming for the top flight.