Israel vs Moldova prediction, H2H and probable lineups – 16 November 2025
One of Group I's World Cup 2026 qualifying clashes will take place on Sunday at a neutral venue in Chișinău, where Israel will play as the nominal hosts against Moldova. I'm offering a prediction on the outcome of this encounter, with promising odds for success.
Match preview
Israel is wrapping up another disappointing campaign, with no chance of reaching the World Cup. After three consecutive defeats—including a crushing 0-5 loss to Norway and a recent goalless draw against Lithuania—the team has settled firmly in third place, trailing well behind the leaders. Poor finishing and a noticeable dip in attacking play since a productive September have been decisive factors in their final group standing.
With injuries decimating their attacking options, the coaching staff has been forced to rely on youth and reserve players. Nevertheless, a 4-0 home win over Moldova in their previous head-to-head could serve as a solid morale booster. Israel will be eager to finish the qualifiers on a high note, especially amid declining results and the absence of fans.
Moldova, meanwhile, are enduring another typically tough qualifying cycle, sitting bottom of the table with just one point. After a record 1-11 defeat to Norway, the team showed more organization, narrowly losing 0-2 to Italy late in the game. The return of experienced players has added some structure, but their overall level of resistance still falls short of true competitiveness.
Interestingly, thanks to their Nations League results, Moldova still holds a faint hope of reaching the playoffs despite their current qualifying struggles. The team will try to challenge Israel, but given their lack of attacking threat and ongoing defensive uncertainty, their chances of success remain slim.
Probable lineups
- Israel: Glazer, Dasa, Nachmias, Blorian, Revivo, Gloukh, Kanichowsky, D. Peretz, Biton, Turgeman, Shua
- Moldova: Cojuhari, Revenko, Craciun, Ștefan, Dumbrăvanu, Reabciuk, Caimacov, Rata, Ioniță, Postolachi, Nicolaescu
Match facts and head-to-head
- Israel has won all five previous World Cup qualifying matches against Moldova.
- In the first round of this qualifying campaign, Israel won 4-0.
- Moldova has lost 8 of their last 9 World Cup qualification matches.
Prediction
Israel holds a clear advantage over their rivals both in squad quality and organizational level, despite their recent dip in form. Moldova, despite some minor defensive improvements, remain clear underdogs with persistent attacking woes. Expect a confident win for Israel, who will aim to close out the qualifiers with a statement result.
