Be'er Sheva to Face Besiktas Away as Turkish Club Won't Host Israeli Team in Turkey

Hapoel Be'er Sheva was drawn to face Turkish club Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League group stage, with the match scheduled as an away game. This will mark the first encounter between an Israeli and a Turkish team since the controversy involving Gabi Kanikovski in October 2025. Since October 7, 2025, Turkish teams in both football and basketball have refrained from hosting Israeli opponents on Turkish soil, a policy that continued last season with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv playing their EuroLeague games against Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce outside Turkey.

The last meeting between Besiktas and an Israeli team was in the 2024/25 season, when Besiktas hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in Debrecen, Hungary, losing 3-1. During that match, Gabi Kanikovski scored and celebrated with his customary salute to the sky, honoring fallen friends since the outbreak of Operation Iron Swords. Due to the ongoing political sensitivities and precedents, Besiktas is not expected to host Be'er Sheva in Turkey, meaning the game will be played at a neutral or alternative venue.

The draw took place on August 28, 2026, and Be'er Sheva, led by coach Ran Kozuch, will face a challenging group with several intriguing opponents. The decision reflects the broader impact of regional tensions on sports events involving Israeli teams in Turkey.