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 the disappointment of their recent playoff elimination. The draw for the second-tier European competition was completed on August 27, 2026, revealing the teams and groups for the upcoming season. Be'er Sheva was placed in the fourth seeding pot and will face eight opponents from the other three pots, playing home and away matches against each.

The Europa League features a total of 32 teams divided into four pots based on their rankings. Notable clubs in the top pot include AC Milan, Juventus, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, and Marseille. Other notable teams across the pots are Celtic, Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Crystal Palace, and Besiktas. The competition format mirrors that of the Champions League, with the top eight teams from the group stage advancing directly to the round of 16, and teams ranked 9th to 24th entering a playoff round.

Financial incentives are significant, with each group stage win earning 450,000 euros and a draw 150,000 euros. Be'er Sheva has already secured 8.6 million euros in prize money. Advancing to the playoff round grants an additional 300,000 euros, while direct qualification to the round of 16 is worth 1.75 million euros. Further progression offers escalating rewards, culminating in 7 million euros for reaching the final and a 6 million euro bonus for the winner, who also earns a Champions League berth.

The group stage matches are scheduled between September 16, 2026, and January 28, 2027, with eight rounds of fixtures. Be'er Sheva will need to accumulate around ten points to have a strong chance of advancing, based on recent seasons' benchmarks. The club now prepares for a challenging European campaign against established football powers and emerging teams alike.