Israeli Football Clubs Boost Their Chances in European Competitions After Strong Starts

Three Israeli football teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, began their 2026 European campaigns with impressive performances, significantly improving their odds of advancing further in their respective tournaments. Maccabi Tel Aviv dominated Sheriff Tiraspol 5-0 in the Europa League qualifiers and is expected to easily reach the third qualifying round. According to Football Meets Data, Maccabi has a 25% chance to enter the Europa League group stage and a 71% chance to reach any group stage, a notable increase from 52% before their win. However, the forecast predicts elimination in the playoff round due to the uncertainty of future opponents, which could vary widely in strength.

Beitar Jerusalem, after a 1-0 away victory against AEK Larnaca in the Conference League qualifiers, saw its chances to reach the third qualifying round rise from 39% to 73%. The team's likelihood of advancing to the Conference League group stage increased from 8% to 13%, with expectations now that they will surpass Larnaca and the next round before potentially exiting in the playoff. If successful, Beitar will face the winner between Liepāja and Austria Vienna, with Austria Vienna currently leading 2-0 from the first leg.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, returning to European competition after 12 years, secured a 2-0 home win against Ludogorets Razgrad. Their probability of advancing past Ludogorets jumped from 36% to 76%, with an 8% chance to reach the Conference League group stage, up from 4%. Should they progress, Hapoel will face the winner of the Žilina (Slovakia) versus Katowice (Poland) tie, with Žilina leading 2-1 from the first match. All three teams have seen their prospects improve significantly following their initial victories, reflecting a positive outlook for Israeli football in Europe this season.