IDF plan to use classified video system to stream World Cup matches to soldiers shelved

The IDF had planned to use the classified operational video system Z-Tube, originally designed to transmit operational footage in real time, but the idea was ultimately taken off the table.

by Lidor Sultan

Published on 06-11-2026 13:50

Last modified: 06-11-2026 14:46

The IDF had planned to use the classified operational video system Z-Tube to broadcast World Cup matches to soldiers stationed in Lebanon. But, a short time after publication, the decision was made to backtrack. The issue had not been coordinated and approved in advance with the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate.

Among other things, officials in the directorate argued that Z-Tube is a classified system and that civilian content should not be shown on it. They said the broadcast did not pose a real information security problem, but that it would set a precedent that could divert the system from its original purpose.

Real-time viewing from remote locations

The system, operated by the IDF C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, was originally developed for operational needs and enables real-time video streaming to all branches of the Israeli military. In routine times and emergencies, it is used to transmit footage from aircraft, drones, naval vessels, armored fighting vehicles and other surveillance systems, with a delay of only fractions of a second.

The IDF refers to the system as its "operational YouTube," bringing together thousands of different video sources in one place. Alongside live broadcasts, it also enables the storage and display of vast quantities of filmed material for debriefings and operational learning. According to IDF figures, the system can store daily volumes of data equivalent to nearly 100,000 mobile phones.

מתחם המונדיאל ביוסטון , AFP — World Cup compound in Houston. Photo: AFP

The system was launched in 2017 and was later expanded to all branches of the military. During the Swords of Iron war, it became one of the core tools in the IDF's command-and-control rooms, used to relay a real-time picture of the situation across the various fronts.