Estonia vs Israel, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Today Match Prediction

Estonia vs Israel Match Prediction & Analysis

Estonia will host Israel at the A. Le Coq Arena on Friday in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers, a crucial Group I clash. Both teams currently sit on three points after two matches, making this a pivotal game as they aim to challenge favorites Italy and Norway.

Israel previously secured a 2-1 victory over Estonia in their first encounter of this campaign. However, Israel comes into this match after a 4-2 defeat to Norway, while Estonia bounced back from that loss with a 3-2 away win against Moldova. Estonia will be seeking revenge on home turf, but will be concerned by having a player sent off in both their opening matches. 

Head to Head Record - Israel has dominated Estonia, winning all three previous meetings. Despite Israel's less-than-stellar away form (only three wins in ten), their strong head-to-head record against Estonia provides confidence. This match is an early showdown for third place in the group, and both sides will be eager to prove their World Cup qualification credentials.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Estonia Preview

Estonia approaches their home qualifier against Israel with a mixed bag of recent results and a FIFA ranking of 121st, suggesting a challenging path for World Cup qualification. While they avoided relegation in the UEFA Nations League and garnered four crucial points against Azerbaijan, their opening World Cup qualifier against Israel saw them outplayed despite a narrow 2-1 defeat, managing only a third of possession and significantly fewer shots on goal.

However, Jürgen Henn's side did find success in their subsequent match against Moldova, securing a 3-2 victory in a five-goal thriller where Mattias Käit was the hero, scoring the winning goal. This comeback win, despite both teams finishing with 10 men, highlights a degree of resilience. 

Estonia's home games against Israel and later Norway present an opportunity to build on this, though they remain underdogs. Statistically, Estonia averages 0.9 goals from 2.3 shots on goal and 4.4 attempts per game, while conceding 1.6 goals from 8.1 shots on goal. They have won just 8 of their last 52 matches in all competitions and have conceded one or more goals in their last eight home matches.

Unfortunately, Estonia faces significant squad issues, with key players like captain Karol Mets, Joonas Tamm, and Kristo Hussar all unavailable due to injury or health concerns. This defensive instability, coupled with their overall statistics of 2 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw in recent matches, underscores the uphill battle they face against Israel. 

Estonia Probable Starting Lineup - Igonen; Saliste, Kuusk, Paskotsi, Schjonning-Larsen; Poom, Ainsalu; Yakovlev, Kait, Simyavskiy; Sappinen

Israel Preview

Under manager Ran Ben Shimon, Israel aims for their first World Cup appearance since 1970 with a youthful squad. Their campaign started positively with a 2-1 victory over Estonia, but a subsequent 4-2 defeat to Norway highlighted defensive vulnerabilities. Despite this, Israel has shown flashes of potential, notably with a goalless draw against and a victory over Belgium last year in the Nations League.

Offensively, Israel has scored an average of 1.17 goals per game in their last six matches, but their defense has conceded an average of 2.17 goals over the same period, with both teams scoring in six of their recent World Cup qualification games. They have conceded one or more goals in all of their last eight league matches. 

The squad, largely free of injury concerns with the exception of Dia Saba, features exciting talents. Oscar Gloukh, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder, had an impressive season with Salzburg, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists. Captain Manor Solomon, now in the Premier League with Leeds, has consistently contributed to goals in his recent club appearances. 

Additionally, Tai Baribo, currently the top scorer in MLS with nine goals in 21 games (2024 season), could provide a significant attacking threat despite limited national team minutes. While Israel has struggled on the road with only one win in their last six away matches, their attacking talent and desire for World Cup qualification will be key against Estonia. 

Israel Probable Starting Lineup - Peretz (Gk); Abada, Shlomo, Lemkin, Nachmias, Solomon; D.Peretz, E.Peretz, Jaber, Gloukh; Turgeman