As the newly formed Israel was in the midst of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, most footballing activities were delayed until spring 1949.

Footballing activities for underage (and therefore, not eligible for military service) footballers continued, as possible even during the ongoing war, with the 1947–48 Palestine Noar League, which started before the declaration of independence, completed in summer 1948.

During fall 1949, the IFA organized a national cup competition for youth teams, which was won by Maccabi Tel Aviv, who had beaten Maccabi Ramat Gan 3–0 in the final.

[1] Prior to departure the national team held a training camp in Israel, playing training matches against several army teams, beating the transport corps 10–1, the artillery corps 8–0, the Alexandroni Brigade 8–3 and a select XI from the brigades stationed along the Jordanian-Iraqi front 6–0.

[2] While in the US, the teams also had a training match, while visiting the United States Military Academy, against the Army Black Knights, winning 9–0.