Israeli Handball League Draw Sets Key Matches for 2026 Season

The Israeli Handball Association held the league draw event on August 4, 2026, in Rishon LeZion, revealing the match schedules for both the men's and women's leagues. The draw was conducted by Israeli national team players Dan Teper, Shnir Netsia, Sharon Ekler, and Ofek Rotman. 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 both men and women will offer 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 matches include the newly promoted Hapoel Arad hosting Hapoel Rishon LeZion, defending champions A.S. Ramat Hasharon playing away at Hapoel Kiryat Ono, and other fixtures such as 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 matches include the Rishon LeZion derby in round two, the Sharon derby between Bnei Herzliya and A.S. Ramat Hasharon in round eight, and a clash between the promoted teams Arad and Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin in round 12.

The women's Athena League, now with 11 teams following Maccabi Tel Aviv's addition, also had its first round set: 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 opening round. Key matches highlighted include Maccabi Arzim Ramat Gan vs. Hapoel Ashdod in round two, the Rishon LeZion derby in round four, and other significant fixtures in rounds eight and nine.

Additionally, the men's Winner Cup opening tournament named after Mozes Rash was organized into four groups, with teams like Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Arad, M.C. Holon, and M.C. Be'er Sheva in Group A. The women's season-opening Winner Cup, named after Ronit Shteiger, has quarterfinal matchups set: 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.