Israeli Football Clubs Face Crucial European Qualifiers Draw Ahead of 2026 Season

On Monday, Israeli football clubs will be drawn into the third qualifying round of European competitions, determining their path in the 2026 season. This draw comes immediately after the 2026 World Cup concludes on Sunday, with teams yet to play their second-round matches. Hapoel Be'er Sheva will compete in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League, and both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem in the UEFA Conference League.

The draw will also assign backup competitions for Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Tel Aviv should they lose in their current tournaments. Beitar Jerusalem faces Cypriot club AEK Larnaca in the second qualifying round on July 23 and 30. If Beitar advances, they will enter the third qualifying round of the Conference League, where they are expected to be seeded. Potential opponents include teams dropping from other qualifiers such as Anderlecht, Hammarby, Benfica, and St. Gallen. If eliminated, Beitar will exit European competition. UEFA has already awarded them 350,000 euros, with an additional 200,000 euros possible upon advancing.

Similarly, Hapoel Tel Aviv will face Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the second qualifying round on the same dates. Success will lead them to the third qualifying round of the Conference League, with similar seeding and potential opponents as Beitar Jerusalem. Failure to advance will result in elimination from Europe. They have also secured 350,000 euros from UEFA, with a further 200,000 euros available if they progress.

The article notes that the Israeli teams’ futures in European football depend heavily on these upcoming matches and draws, which will shape their competitive and financial prospects for the season.