Hapoel Be'er Sheva Nears Record-Breaking UEFA Champions League Prize Money

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Sabah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff on Wednesday at 22:00, with a historic financial reward at stake. If Be'er Sheva eliminates Sabah and advances to the group stage, the club will receive the largest sum ever awarded to an Israeli team in European competition. The club has already secured 8.6 million euros from reaching the playoff and guaranteeing a spot in the Europa League group stage, with payments split between the playoff (4.29 million euros) and the Europa League (4.31 million euros).

Advancing to the Champions League group stage would add approximately 18.62 million euros, including a primary payment of 17.87 million euros and an additional 750,000 euros, totaling around 64 million shekels. Be'er Sheva is expected to receive an extra 275,000 euros based on its UEFA coefficient ranking, which is likely the lowest among competitors, bringing the total to about 18.89 million euros. This surpasses Maccabi Haifa's 2022/23 earnings of 15.64 million euros, despite currency fluctuations and differences in home game locations.

The current squad's market value is estimated at 18.05 million euros, nearly doubling with the potential prize money. The club can still sign players until September 2, the UEFA registration deadline, and currently has six foreign players signed. Potential transfers include a foreign center-back and an attacking midfielder to replace Kings Kangwa, with Israeli player Basem Zaaroura also considered.

Additional bonuses include 2.1 million euros per win and 700,000 euros per draw in the group stage. Be'er Sheva will face eight opponents across four tiers, with nine points possibly sufficient to advance. Progressing to the knockout stage would yield an extra million euros, and reaching the round of 16, the best achievement by an Israeli club, would bring 11 million euros more. Overall, Be'er Sheva stands to gain a record-breaking financial package from UEFA if it qualifies for the Champions League group stage.