The club's most notable result, which is considered to be the biggest upset in the history of Israeli football,[1] came at the Round of 16 of the 1962–63 Israel State Cup, when Hapoel Nahariya, which played in Liga Bet, the third tier of Israeli football at the time, defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–0, with a late goal by Rafi Shushan.

They were eliminated in the Quarter-finals, following a defeat of 3–5 to the Israeli champions at the time, Hapoel Petah Tikva.

Hapoel Nahariya spent 12 seasons in the second tier of Israeli football.

In the following season, the club reached their best placing to date, after they finished third in Liga Alef North division.

Currently, the club plays in Liga Gimel, the fifth and lowest tier of Israeli football, after they were relegated from Liga Bet in the 2010–11 season, following a defeat of 0–1 to Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum in the relegation play-offs.