The opening day of a tournament group stage always brings a buzz of excitement.
When Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Breidablik at Bloomfield Stadium on Thursday, you could really feel it.
For the home side, fans have been getting used to the fact that Robbie Keane is the team’s head coach - and was making his group stage debut with the Israelis, after a successful qualifying run.
Sixteen years ago, he scored in the same stadium as a Tottenham player against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup group stage.
The guests from Iceland have had a long journey to reach this moment.
They played in the preliminary round of the Champions League back in June, before working their way through to the Conference League group stage - the first Icelandic team to reach this stage.
Robbie Keane, first group stage match in the career with Maccabi Tel Aviv (Shaul Greenfeld)
The first strike came in the 12th minute, Yvann Macon scored with a long-range shot.
For the 24-year-old Frenchmen, this is his first season playing in a European competition, and now he has scored his first goal.
Halfway through the first half, Maccabi scored again, as Joris van Overeem passed the ball gently to Eran Zahavi who scored the 42nd European goal in his career - more than any other Israeli player.
Just after the half hour mark, Dan Biton converted a deflected Dor Peretz shot to put the Israelis 3-0 up.
To have any chance of staying in the game, Breidablik needed to score before half-time - and a counter-attack goal from Klaemint Olsen saw the Icelandic side do just that.
Olsen is one of the few non-native players in the Breidablik squad, coming from the Faroe Islands.
They carried on that momentum into the second half, with Olsen heading in a Hoskuldur Gunnlaugson cross to make it 3-2.
Eran Zahavi, another goal in the road to Maccabi Tel Aviv first win against Breidablik (Shaul Greenfeld)
Despite the game slowing down towards the end, Breidablik aren’t used to this level of pace, and failed to challenge Maccabi again.
This opening game win for Maccabi seems them start their Conference League campaign with a much-needed three points. Two years ago they reached the knockout stages, and they’ll be hoping to do the same again.
Edited by Alex Smith
Thumbnail photo by Shaul Greenfeld
Conference League's final draws near, and four teams are poised for Athens on May 29. Olympiacos dazzled Villa Park, while Fiorentina secured a narrow lead.
Aston Villa saw off Lille, while Olympiakos got Fenerbahçe in trouble. Yossi Medina and Eden Roitfarb recapped all the Conference League quarter-final first-leg action.
After nine years at Liverpool, Salah left for Trabzonspor — the money, the family, and the love of being the underdog all played their part.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Final, ending Lionel Messi's dream World Cup with heartbreak.
Thousands of Argentina fans transformed Times Square before the 2026 World Cup final, all united to thank Lionel Messi.
Spain were ruthless in Dallas as Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo starred, leaving France's Bastille Day to end in deep disappointment for Deschamps.
Norway outplayed England for most of a sweltering Miami classic, but two Bellingham strikes in extra time sent the Three Lions to the semis.
Egypt pushed Argentina to the limit in a 3-2 World Cup thriller, but left the pitch furious at the referee and convinced justice was denied.
Ayoub Bouaddi chose Morocco over France at 18 and lit up a quarter-final about colonial history, dual identity, and what it means to belong.
Merino's late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over Portugal as Ronaldo left the World Cup stage in tears in what many believe was his final match.
Egypt beat Australia on penalties in Dallas to reach the last 16 for the first time, with Salah's Panenka the highlight of a historic night.
Diop headed Morocco level in the 91st minute and Saibari slotted the winner in the shootout as Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi and the Jordanian Messi both scored as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, with records broken and keffiyehs flying in the stands.
France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, but the two-hour lightning delay stole the show, making it officially the longest World Cup game ever.
Saibari scored inside two minutes as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Boston, leaving the Scots on the very brink of 2026 World Cup elimination.
Senegal relived their legendary 2002 magic for an hour, but Kylian Mbappe struck twice to sink them and seal France's 3-1 win in New Jersey.
Qatar stole a last-gasp draw from Switzerland and Morocco held Brazil 1-1 — two results that announced Arab football’s full arrival at 2026.
Azteca stadium hosts its third World Cup as Mexico City buzzes with pride, protest, and the deep belief that football has always lived here.
Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig to win the Conference League in the most romantic underdog final in European football history.
Maccabi Tel Aviv edge Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–1 in a dramatic Israeli Cup Final at Teddy Stadium, denying the champions a historic Double.
With tensions easing, Iran’s 2026 World Cup participation remains uncertain, as FIFA, politics, and regional dynamics collide.
CAF shocks African football by stripping Senegal’s title and awarding Morocco the AFCON crown after a chaotic final decision.
From silent protests to daring escapes, Iran’s women footballers turned a tournament into a global story of courage, politics, and survival.
Iran’s women’s team protested, faced threats, and signaled SOS in Australia—now their fate is uncertain amid calls for asylum.
From geopolitics to spectacle, Trump looms over World Cup 2026—reshaping football, power, and culture in the biggest tournament ever.
FIFA joins Gaza rebuilding plans, restoring stadiums, pitches, and youth programs, supporting football and hope in the Strip.
From Nigeria’s Mavlon academy to Viktoria Plzeň and the Europa League dream: Salim Fago’s journey is just beginning in Europe.
From Benzema’s shock move to Ronaldo’s protest, a chain reaction in Saudi football is shaking the entire project and the global game.
A Hitchcock-style AFCON final in Rabat saw chaos, controversy and brilliance as Senegal stunned Morocco to claim their second African title.
From libraries to stadiums, Morocco lives football. As AFCON 2025 nears its climax, passion, politics, and ambition collide nationwide.
From rain-soaked Rabat to a deafening semifinal night, Morocco edge Nigeria on penalties and stand 90 minutes from an AFCON title.
Olympiacos 'killed' Aston Villa again, advancing to their first-ever European final, where they'll meet Fiorentina—all the action from the Conference League semi-finals.