For the upcoming 2025-26 season, Israel’s top basketball teams—Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem, and Hapoel Tel Aviv—will once again play their EuroLeague home games in other European countries. This decision, announced by Euroleague Basketball, continues the arrangement from last season, prioritizing safety amid the ongoing situation in the region.
The core reason for this move is to ensure the safety and well-being of all players, staff, and fans. By choosing alternative venues, the league can maintain a stable and secure environment for the competition to proceed without interruption, a measure that proved effective last season.
🏀 Belgrade to Host Two Israeli Teams
Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, will serve as a temporary home for two of the teams. Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their games at the historic Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, while Hapoel Jerusalem will compete at the Ranko Zeravica Sports Hall. This allows both teams to have a consistent base for their home fixtures.
🇧🇬 Hapoel Tel Aviv Relocates to Sofia
Meanwhile, Hapoel Tel Aviv will be based in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Their home games are scheduled to take place at Arena 8888. If that venue is unavailable for certain matches, the team has arranged to play at the nearby Arena Botevgrad, ensuring their games can go ahead as planned.
🛡️ Safety Remains the Top Priority
Euroleague Basketball has stressed that these measures are temporary and are based on current security assessments. The league will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains in contact with all teams. They hope that conditions will improve, allowing games to return to Israel in the future.
