Maccabi Haifa Faces Foreign Player Dilemma Ahead of Toto Cup Playoff

Maccabi Haifa is preparing for its upcoming Toto Cup playoff match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday, August 17, 2026. The club is currently dealing with complications regarding its foreign player roster. Andrea Novakovic will not participate in the match due to registration issues, while Peter Agba still occupies a foreign player slot. The club hopes to loan Agba out before the league season starts to free up space for the American-Serbian player.

A key issue revolves around defender Pedro, who has come off the bench in recent games and is showing signs of recovery but is unlikely to start. This is partly because three other foreign defenders, Yala Bataie, Wanderson Tsunami, and Nigel Lonwijk, are ahead of him in the lineup. If Manuel Benson is fit, he is expected to start alongside Bruninho. Novakovic is considered the leading forward, with six foreign players already guaranteed spots in the squad.

Pedro earns over 300,000 euros per season, and no club is willing to pay his full salary or transfer fee, which Maccabi Haifa paid at 1.3 million euros. The only option to release him would be a compensation agreement similar to that of Matias Nahuel. Some in the coaching staff believe Pedro deserves another chance after a difficult period. If he remains, the club will not add any new foreign players until January.

Separately, Itay Ehud has agreed to terms with Hapoel Petah Tikva and will be loaned there until the end of the season. Maccabi Haifa retains the option to recall him in January, as it has done previously with players like Mohammed Abu Fani, Sharif Kiyof, and Basem Za'arura.