Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv Unite to Bring EuroLeague Games Back to Israel

As the 2026/2027 EuroLeague season approaches, Israeli basketball teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv are collaborating to restore hosting rights for EuroLeague games in Israel. With the season set to begin in about six weeks, the two clubs' leaders, Maccabi chairman Shimon Mizrahi and Hapoel owner Ofer Yanai, have jointly engaged with EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu to advocate for the return of games to Israeli venues.

Following separate discussions with Bertomeu, Mizrahi and Yanai presented security guarantees to reassure the league amid regional tensions. Their efforts come after the announcement that the season will open in Dubai despite ongoing regional instability, highlighting the urgency for Israeli teams to secure home games. Optimism has grown that if the current security situation remains stable, EuroLeague matches could resume in Israel by November.

This rare cooperation between the two rival club leaders marks a significant step toward achieving a successful season for Israeli basketball. Bertomeu previously emphasized the league's priority to protect teams and fans and stated that games would return to Israel only if deemed safe by government authorities. The joint initiative by Mizrahi and Yanai aims to meet these safety standards and restore Israeli fans' opportunity to watch their teams compete on home soil.

The collaboration was reported by Sport 5 on August 10, 2026, underscoring the importance of the move for Israeli basketball's presence in Europe's premier club competition.