Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures €8.6 Million Despite Champions League Playoff Exit

Hapoel Be'er Sheva narrowly missed qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage after losing to Sabah on August 25, 2026. However, the club secured a substantial financial reward of €8.6 million by reaching the Champions League playoff round, one of the highest sums ever earned by an Israeli team in European competitions. This amount includes payments for participation in the playoff and guaranteed entry into the UEFA Europa League group stage.

The €8.6 million will be disbursed mostly in two installments of €4.29 million and €4.14 million, with an additional advance of €170,000 to follow. Based on Be'er Sheva's UEFA coefficient, the club is expected to receive around €240,000 more, though the final figure will be confirmed after upcoming matches on Thursday and could be lower. Performance bonuses are also in play, with €450,000 awarded per win and €150,000 per draw in the Europa League group stage. Advancing to the round of 16 would yield an extra €1.75 million, while qualifying for the playoff round would bring €300,000.

In comparison, the combined transfer fees of Be'er Sheva's five most expensive players total €7.9 million, underscoring the significance of the European earnings. The team currently has six foreign players signed, with potential roster changes expected before the September 2 registration deadline for European competitions. The club is actively seeking to strengthen its squad, particularly targeting a foreign center-back and an attacking midfielder to replace Kings Kangwa.

Beyond the financial gains, Be'er Sheva may also benefit from hosting high-profile European clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan, Real Sociedad, or Marseille in Romania, which could generate additional revenue. Club owner Alona Barkat's team is thus positioned for a lucrative European campaign despite the setback in Champions League qualification.