Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances to Europa League Group Stage Amidst Tough Draw

Hapoel Be'er Sheva has secured a spot in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League after overcoming setbacks in the qualifying playoffs. The group stage draw was finalized on August 27, 2026, setting the stage for Be'er Sheva to face eight teams, two from each seeding pot, in home-and-away matches.

The top-seeded teams include Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Juventus, AC Milan, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiacos, Real Sociedad, and Marseille. Be'er Sheva was placed in the fourth pot alongside Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Tromsø, NEC Nijmegen, OFI Crete, Lillestrøm, Levski Sofia, and Ararat-Armenia. The competition format mirrors that of the Champions League, with the top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9-24 enter a playoff round.

Mathematically, ten points are generally sufficient to advance from the group stage, with thirteen points likely securing home advantage in the playoffs and sixteen points expected to guarantee a direct spot in the round of 16. Financial incentives include 450,000 euros for a win and 150,000 euros for a draw in the group stage. Be'er Sheva has already earned 8.6 million euros from previous rounds. Advancing to the playoff round yields 300,000 euros, direct qualification to the round of 16 awards 1.75 million euros, with further increases for quarterfinals (2.5 million), semifinals (4.2 million), and the final (7 million). The winner receives an additional 6 million euros plus 21.45 million euros for knockout stage achievements and a Champions League berth.

The group stage matches are scheduled from mid-September 2026 through late January 2027, with eight rounds planned. This marks a significant milestone for Be'er Sheva as they prepare to compete against European football powerhouses and aim for further success in the tournament.