Israeli Footballers Face Israeli Teams Abroad in Rare International Matches

Israeli football is witnessing a rare event as Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces Red Star Belgrade on August 4, 2026, with Israeli player Mohammad Abu Fani playing against a familiar Israeli rival from his Maccabi Haifa days. Such encounters between Israeli players and Israeli teams abroad are uncommon due to the limited international exposure of Israeli players and the recent rise of Israeli clubs in European competitions.

Historically, there have been nine notable instances where Israeli players met Israeli teams in competitive matches abroad. The earliest was in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup qualifiers when Eyal Berkovic, newly signed by Celtic, faced Hapoel Tel Aviv but only appeared as a late substitute. In 2011/12, Aliniv Breda of Genk, a former Maccabi Haifa player, scored against his old club during Champions League qualifiers.

Other examples include Nir Biton playing for Celtic against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2016/17, Amir Agayev with Omonia Nicosia facing Beitar Jerusalem the same season, and Marwan Kaba with Maribor against Be'er Sheva in 2017/18. More recent encounters feature Manor Solomon of Shakhtar Donetsk against Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2020/21, Eran Zahavi with PSV Eindhoven versus Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2021/22, and Omri Gandelman of Gent playing both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in 2023/24.

The latest case occurred in the 2026/27 Conference League qualifiers when Yehav Gurfinkel of AEK Larnaca faced Beitar Jerusalem. These matches highlight the growing presence of Israeli players in European clubs and the increasing competitiveness of Israeli teams in continental tournaments. The upcoming Be'er Sheva vs. Red Star match continues this rare tradition, with Abu Fani set to play against his homeland's club.

This trend reflects the gradual integration of Israeli footballers into European leagues and the evolving stature of Israeli clubs on the international stage, marking a new chapter in Israeli football history.