Hapoel Kiryat Shmona Faces Fourth Season Away From Home Stadium Amid Ongoing Repairs

Hapoel Kiryat Shmona is entering its fourth consecutive season playing away from its home stadium in northern Israel due to extensive damage sustained during rocket attacks in 2024. The club, coached by Shai Berada, is preparing to host Maccabi Haifa in its Toto Cup opener, but the question of when they will return home remains unresolved. The municipal stadium in Kiryat Shmona suffered significant damage to the pitch and locker rooms, and restoration work is ongoing without a clear completion date.

Despite a quieter security situation in recent months, the team continues to train and host home games far from the north, primarily in Netanya and at the national teams' facility in Shfayim. This prolonged displacement has imposed heavy financial and logistical burdens on the club. The municipality, responsible for the stadium's rehabilitation, has yet to provide a timeline for the team's return.

Shaul Goldstein, the lead project manager for the city's war damage recovery, explained that the stadium, originally built in the 1980s, requires not only repairs but a comprehensive upgrade to meet current Premier League standards. Initial plans to reopen the stadium in February 2026 were delayed by renewed conflict with Iran, pushing the focus to the 2026/27 season. The stadium's western stand was severely damaged, with repairs costing over 5 million shekels, and recent rocket fire further damaged electrical infrastructure.

The renovation, which began eight months ago, includes sealing stands, installing new seats imported from abroad, upgrading facilities, and constructing a new locker room to facilitate the team's eventual return. The pitch has been replaced and is expected to be ready by mid-August, with hopes that the team can resume training at home within two to three months, weather permitting.

Coach Berada emphasized that despite the challenges, the team’s recent season was defined by youthful, attacking football rather than a narrative of hardship. Kiryat Shmona has consistently demonstrated resilience and quality football despite its displacement, but the absence of a home stadium remains a fundamental issue that the club and fans are eager to resolve.