Be'er Sheva to Face Besiktas Away as Turkish Club Won't Host Israeli Team in Turkey

Hapoel Be'er Sheva was drawn to play against Turkish club Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League group stage, with the match scheduled as an away game. This will mark the first encounter between an Israeli team and a Turkish club since the controversy involving Israeli player Gabi Kanikovski in October 2025. Since October 7, 2025, Turkish sports clubs, both in football and basketball, have refrained from hosting Israeli teams on Turkish soil. This policy was also observed last season when Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv played their EuroLeague basketball matches against Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe outside Turkey.

The last meeting between Besiktas and an Israeli team took place in the 2024/25 season, when Besiktas hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in Debrecen, Hungary, losing 3-1. During that match, Kanikovski scored and celebrated with his customary salute to the sky, honoring friends fallen since the outbreak of Operation Iron Swords. Due to the ongoing sensitive situation and these precedents, Besiktas is not expected to host Be'er Sheva in Turkey, meaning the match will be held at a neutral venue or in Israel.

The draw was conducted on August 28, 2026, and Be'er Sheva, coached by Ran Kozuch, faces several intriguing opponents in the group stage. The decision reflects the broader context of strained Israeli-Turkish sports relations following political and security developments in the region.