Hapoel Beer Sheva in Line for Israeli Footballs Biggest Payday
Hapoel Be’er Sheva FC is on the verge of a record-breaking financial achievement in European football after a 2-1 playoff win.
Jerusalem, 20 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Hapoel Be’er Sheva F.C. is only 90 minutes away from the biggest financial achievement an Israeli team has ever recorded in European competitions.
The team secured a narrow 2-1 comeback victory over Azerbaijani Sabah FK in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff round on Wednesday night. Winger Veljko Simić opened the scoring for Sabah early on, but goals from Javon East and Igor Zlatanović put the Israelis ahead.
Taking part in the Champions League playoffs under UEFA’s new format guarantees huge sums, but officially qualifying for the competition’s “league phase” would propel Hapoel Be’er Sheva into an entirely different financial league.
If the Reds from the Negev capital preserve their advantage over Sabah and qualify for the Champions League’s league phase for the first time in their history, the entry fee alone will soar to €18.62 million ($21.74 million), before factoring in ticket sales, broadcasting rights and performance-based bonus payments.
Maccabi Haifa, which reached the Champions League group stage in the 2022/23 season, received approximately €15.64 million ($18.26 million at today’s rates), before additional revenue from broadcasting rights and home matches.