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Charlotte FC's Liel Abada Will Play for Israel in the Paris Olympic Games
August 2024
By Steve Goldberg
Charlotte FC’s Israeli national team player Liel Abada is heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.
By making the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where they lost to eventual champion England, the nation of less than ten million people has also qualified for the men’s 2024 Paris Olympic soccer competition, returning for the first time since Montreal 1976.
“It’s really big I think for me. It's a dream you know,” said Abada, who scored the second goal in the Crown’s 3-1 win at Cincinnati. “When you start playing football, you dream to play in the national team.”
“I’m really (looking forward) to play in the Olympics. For the country as well. It's something big, something historic for Israel. Especially in this time and we are really waiting for this Olympics.”
While the Games officially open on July 26, the soccer competition begins two days prior.
Israel will face Mali at the Parc des Princes stadium, the home of perennial Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain on July 24. They are in Group D which also includes games against Paraguay (July 27) also in Parc des Princes and Japan (July 30) at La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes. Abada will leave Charlotte FC after the away match against the Colombus Crew. Depending upon Israel’s progression in the tournament which ends with the final on August 10, Abada will miss at least three games, one in league play against Austin FC, and two in the Leagues Cup, away to Philadelphia and home against Cruz Azul. In his first 14 games with Charlotte, he has started 12, scoring 4 goals with 2 assists.
A new generation powers Israel
While it doesn’t ensure success, Israel defeated perennial soccer power Brazil in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup, eventually winning the bronze medal over South Korea 3-1. They also defeated Olympic first round foe Japan 2-1 in group play.
Unlike the basketball competition which has no restrictions on player selection, FIFA has deemed the Olympic tournament an Under-23 event to keep it from rivaling the World Cup in any way. Rules do allow for three players over 23 to be added to the roster.
This will be the nation's 18th appearance at the Summer Olympics, except for Moscow 1980 due to the United States-led boycott. The 18 players on the soccer team will be a large contingent of the 88 Israeli athletes competing in these Games.
Of the 18, only five, including Abada, do not play in Israel.
Daniel Peretz is a goalkeeper with FC Bayern Munich in Germany. Midfielder Omri Gandelman plays for Gent in the Belgian league and Oscar Gloukh for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. Defender Stav Lemkin competes for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
“We want to do our best; we will go there, and we will do our best,” said Abada. “It's something special for everyone.”
A potential talent pool for MLS
Abada is now one of just two Israeli-born players in MLS, joining Tai Baribo, who was signed by the Philadelphia Union last year. The 26-year-old center forward also played for Maccabi Petah Tikva.
As to whether the Olympic tournament can be a showcase for other Israelis to come to MLS, Abada, who last played in the Scottish Premier League for Glasgow Celtic, said he’s been impressed with the competition here. “MLS is a really good league with really good players. In Israel we have so many good talents, young players and I think it would be good for them, but you know, I cannot control who comes here or not.”
As for himself, he says the move has been good. “I’m really happy to be here. I’ve gotten so much support from the staff, from the coaches, from players, from the fans, and you know, I feel like it’s home here so it's a really good place for me.”
“I had like a tough year last season, but I’m starting to feel really good. Hopefully, we can continue to do what we do the best.”
Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, an event featured in the 1981 Academy Award winning film Chariots of Fire. A central character in the film was Harold Abrahams, the Jewish sprinter, and his struggle against prejudice to fit in with his upper crust English teammates.
