Sources in Israeli basketball: EuroLeague will not return to the country in the coming year

Difficult news for basketball fans in the country and for the Israeli representatives in the continent's top competition: after attempts and frantic efforts to return international games to sports arenas in Tel Aviv, senior sources in Israeli basketball told C14 that the prevailing assessment in the system is that EuroLeague games will not return to be played in Israel during 2026, and even for a significant part of the beginning of 2027.

According to those sources, despite the appeals and repeated demands of the exclusive representatives and the Israeli teams — led by the joint effort of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv to restore home hosting — the EuroLeague management is not inclined to approve the return of games to the country at this time, and the teams will be forced to continue hosting their home games on neutral grounds overseas.

The issue of hosting games: a blow to the Israeli representatives

This cognitive and sporting blow comes as a direct continuation of previous reports regarding the complex attitude of the EuroLeague management towards the Israeli clubs. As you may recall, just recently we reported on C14 about the storm and anger among basketball fans in the country, following the EuroLeague's decision to hold its new "Super Cup" tournament in Abu Dhabi. The decision to hold a prestigious event in the UAE at a time when it is still not approved to host official games in Israel, caused great frustration among the fans and team managements.

As you may recall, while Hapoel Jerusalem is currently fighting against the league management for a long-term license (franchise) in the EuroLeague, the Israeli demands to return the games to Israel are repeatedly met with a brick wall. The updated assessment that the EuroLeague will not return to Israel until at least the middle of the 2026/27 season poses a heavy economic, professional, and logistical challenge for Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, who will be forced to continue wandering through European capitals in the coming season as well.