Katowice Rises From Polish Second Division to Face Hapoel Tel Aviv in Conference League
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a 2:2 draw against Ludogorets on July 30, 2026, completing a 4:2 aggregate victory to advance to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Their next opponent will be Katowice, a Polish club with a rich history but no national league titles. Founded in 1964, Katowice has won the Polish Cup three times and was a prominent team in the 1980s and 1990s, participating several times in European competitions.
Katowice finished fifth in the Polish top division last season after returning from a long absence. Their squad is valued at approximately 13.2 million euros, comparable to Hapoel Tel Aviv’s 13.6 million euros. The Polish side began their Conference League qualifying campaign in the second round against Žilina, losing the first leg 2-1 but winning the return leg 3-1 to advance.
Despite less extensive European experience than some of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s previous opponents, Katowice has rebuilt a balanced and stable team. This matchup presents a different challenge for Hapoel Tel Aviv, who aim to maintain focus to reach the group stage of the Conference League. Katowice is eager to continue their resurgence on the continental stage, while Hapoel Tel Aviv seeks to progress further in the competition.
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