Israeli Football Clubs Advance in Europe, Boosting UEFA Ranking Prospects

Israeli football clubs had a successful week in European competitions, with all four representatives advancing to the third qualifying round for the first time since the 2017/18 season. Hapoel Be'er Sheva progressed in the Champions League qualifiers, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League, and Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Conference League. This collective achievement added 0.375 points to Israel's UEFA coefficient, raising the country's total to 22.125 points and securing 25th place in the five-year ranking.

So far this season, Israeli clubs have earned 1.375 points, nearly half of last season's total of 2.875, with further opportunities to increase their score as all four teams continue in the competitions. In contrast, the four countries ranked above Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Croatia, and Slovenia, each lost at least one representative, with Slovenia losing three. Croatia, currently in 23rd place with 23.781 points, is the next target for Israel to surpass, which would allow Israeli clubs to enter later qualifying rounds in the Champions League.

Maintaining or improving Israel's UEFA ranking is crucial for securing more spots and better starting positions in European tournaments. Currently, Cyprus holds 15th place, granting two Champions League qualifying spots, but has already lost one team this season due to Beitar Jerusalem's victory. Finland, ranked 37th, is the only country below Israel to keep all four representatives active. The ongoing strong performance of Israeli clubs could lead to increased European competition opportunities in the near future.