Israeli Football Clubs Achieve Major Success in 2026 European Qualifiers

The summer of 2026 has been a remarkable period for Israeli football, with several clubs achieving significant milestones in European competition qualifiers. Hapoel Be'er Sheva led the way by reaching the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Alongside them, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv advanced to the Conference League playoff stage, while Beitar Jerusalem progressed past AEK Larnaca before being eliminated on penalties by Austria Vienna.

At least one Israeli club has secured a spot in the group stages of a European tournament, ensuring a lengthy European campaign for Israeli teams this season. A notable statistic highlighted by the Twitter account "Football Meets Data" reveals that two of the top three highest-ranked European clubs eliminated from the 2026/27 qualifiers lost to Israeli teams. Hapoel Tel Aviv ousted Ludogorets Razgrad, the highest-ranked team, with a 2-0 home win in Miskolc and a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, Beitar Jerusalem defeated AEK Larnaca, the third-ranked team, with a 1-0 away victory in Cyprus and a penalty shootout win in the return leg.

These results underscore the exceptional and impressive nature of this summer for Israeli football clubs, demonstrating their ability to overcome strong European opponents early in the qualification rounds. The success sets a positive tone for the upcoming European season for Israeli teams.