Experts Predict Be'er Sheva or Beitar Jerusalem to Win Israeli Premier League 2026/27

As the Israeli Premier League 2026/27 season kicks off on August 22, football analysts Itay Shechter, Tal Ben Haim, and Assaf Abulafia shared their season forecasts on Sport 5's traditional "Olim LaRegel" opening episode. Each expert provided their rankings and insights on the title race, surprises, and relegation battles.

Assaf Abulafia predicts Beitar Jerusalem will claim the championship, with Hapoel Be'er Sheva securing European competition despite the financial strain. He expects Maccabi Netanya to surprise by finishing fifth, above Maccabi Haifa, which he sees struggling under pressure. Abulafia also foresees Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Jerusalem battling at the bottom, with Jerusalem finishing last due to a weak and young squad.

Itay Shechter favors Hapoel Be'er Sheva to win the title, believing coach Ran Kojuch will find solutions. He places Beitar Jerusalem third, noting their previous season’s success was partly due to luck. Shechter predicts Hapoel Tel Aviv will finish fourth but warns of rising fan expectations. He expects Ironi Tiberias to finish last and anticipates Bnei Sakhnin will join the relegation zone.

Tal Ben Haim also picks Hapoel Be'er Sheva as champions, highlighting the similarity in coaching styles between Barak Itzhaki and Almog Cohen. He ranks Maccabi Tel Aviv fourth, cautioning about the impact of losing key player Roy Revivo. Ben Haim sees Maccabi Netanya finishing eighth and Ironi Tiberias last, with Hapoel Ramat Gan likely relegated alongside them.

Additionally, analyst Yehonatan Cohen, who did not participate in the broadcast, supports Beitar Jerusalem as champions, emphasizing their strengthened squad and fitness. All experts agree Ironi Tiberias will be relegated. The season’s start tomorrow will test these predictions as teams compete for the title, European spots, and survival in the top flight.