Abigail Klein Leichman
July 11, 2018

Nearly 50 national lacrosse teams and more than 5,000 fans are expected at the 2018 FIL Men’s World Lacrosse Championship in Netanya, July 12-21.

This is the 13th championship event and the first time the competition is being held in Israel, where lacrosse is a relatively new sport.
In the opening match at Netanya Stadium on July 12, Israel’s national team will compete against Jamaica. More than 150 games will be played during the 10-day event, mostly at the Wingate Institute, Israel’s national center for physical education and sports training.

Visiting athletes and their entourages from 48 countries will be treated to a tour of Jerusalem courtesy of the nonprofit Israel Lacrosse Association, which operates teams in 16 cities — including Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva, Haifa, Herzliya, Kiryat Gat, Netanya and Sderot — as well as men’s and women’s national teams.

Israel’s chance to host the World Lacrosse Championship resulted from the country’s second-place win in the 2016 European championship and seventh place in the most recent world championship in 2014.

The Israel Lacrosse Association was founded in 2010 by Scott Neiss, former deputy commissioner of the North American Lacrosse League, who moved to Israel a few years after going on a Birthright trip.

The north-central coastal city of Netanya previously has hosted the European Swimming Championships, World Surfing Championships, international tennis tournaments and under-21 European Football Championships.

The Women’s European Lacrosse Championship will take place in Israel in 2019.

Israel National Team Player Ryan Hunter On LaxSports Network

Israel National Team Player Ryan Hunter talks with Lax Sports Network about the up coming 2018 FIL Men's World Lacrosse Championships and how his experience on Amazing Israel Birthright Lacrosse trip inspired him to move to Israel to play and coach lacrosse.

Posted by Israel Lacrosse on Saturday, July 7, 2018

More on News

Read more: