Israeli Handball Leagues Draw Sets Key Matches for New Season

The Israeli Handball Association held the league draw event on August 4, 2026, in Rishon LeZion, revealing the match schedules for both men's and women's leagues. National team players Dan Teper, Shnir Netsia, Sharon Ekler, and Ofek Rotman conducted the draw. Association chairman Idan Mizrahi opened the event by congratulating the youth national team for finishing first in the intermediate group of the European Championship and announced that, for the first time, the season-opening tournaments for men and women will award prizes to the winners, with decisive matches held on concentrated days.

In the men's Winner League, which features 13 teams this season, the first round includes Hapoel Arad, the newly promoted team, hosting Hapoel Rishon LeZion, and defending champions A.S. Ramat Hasharon playing away against Hapoel Kiryat Ono. Other first-round matches are Maccabi Rishon LeZion vs. Bnei Herzliya, Ironi Rehovot vs. Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin, Hapoel Ashdod vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv, and M.C. Be'er Sheva vs. M.C. Holon. A.C. Nes Ziona will have a bye in the first round due to the odd number of teams. Notable upcoming fixtures include the Rishon LeZion derby in round two, the Sharon derby between Bnei Herzliya and A.S. Ramat Hasharon in round eight, and the promoted teams' clash between Arad and Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin in round 12.

In the women's Athena League, with 11 teams following Maccabi Tel Aviv's addition, the first round features Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Nes Ziona, Hapoel Ashdod vs. Maccabi Petah Tikva, Hapoel Rishon LeZion vs. A.S. Ramat Hasharon, M.C. Holon vs. Bnot Ike Herzliya, and Hapoel Kiryat Ono vs. Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Maccabi Arzim will have a bye in the first round. Key matches include Maccabi Arzim Ramat Gan vs. Hapoel Ashdod in round two, the Rishon LeZion derby in round four, and Bnot Ike Herzliya's matches against Maccabi Arzim Ramat Gan and Hapoel Ashdod in rounds eight and nine, respectively.

The men's Winner Cup for the season-opening tournament, named after Moses Resh, divided teams into four groups: Group A with Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Arad, M.C. Holon, and M.C. Be'er Sheva; Group B with A.C. Nes Ziona, Bnei Herzliya, and A.S. Ramat Hasharon; Group C with Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Ashdod; and Group D with Maccabi Rishon LeZion, Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin, and Ironi Rehovot. The women's season-opening cup, named after Ronit Shteiger, set quarterfinal matchups: Hapoel Rishon LeZion vs. M.C. Holon, Maccabi Arzim Ramat Gan vs. Maccabi Petah Tikva, M.C. Ashdod vs. Maccabi Rishon LeZion, and A.S. Ramat Hasharon vs. Bnot Ike Herzliya.