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2025–26 Israeli Premier League

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Israeli Premier League
Season2025–2026
Dates23 August 2025 – 23 May 2026
ChampionsHapoel Be'er Sheva
RelegatedF.C. Ashdod
Maccabi Bnei Reineh
UEFA Champions LeagueHapoel Be'er Sheva
UEFA Europa League (via State Cup)Maccabi Tel Aviv
UEFA Conference LeagueBeitar Jerusalem
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Matches240
Goals709 (2.95 per match)
Top goalscorerDor Peretz (19 goals)
Biggest home winHapoel Be'er Sheva 7–0 Ironi Tiberias (30 August 2025)
Biggest away winMaccabi Netanya 2–8 Beitar Jerusalem (23 February 2026)
Highest scoringMaccabi Netanya 2–8 Beitar Jerusalem (23 February 2026)
Longest winning runHapoel Be'er Sheva
Beitar Jerusalem (6)
Longest unbeaten runBeitar Jerusalem (12)
Longest winless runF.C. Ashdod (12)
Longest losing runMaccabi Bnei Reineh (9)
Highest attendance29,395 (Maccabi Haifa vs Beitar Jerusalem, 22 December 2025)
Average attendance9,676 [1]
All statistics correct as of 23 May 2026.

The 2025–26 Israeli Premier League, also known as Ligat TOTO Winner[2] for sponsorship reasons is the 27th season since the introduction of the Israeli Premier League in 1999 and the 84th season of top-tier football in Israel. Due to the risk of missile strikes stemming from the 2026 Iran war, the league was suspended between 28 February and 4 April 2026.

Teams

[edit]

The league consists of fourteen teams; twelve sides from the previous season and two promoted teams from the 2024–25 Liga Leumit Hapoel Petah Tikva[3] and Hapoel Tel Aviv.[4] Both teams returned to the top flight after a single season. They replaced the 2024–25 Israeli Premier League bottom two teams, Hapoel Hadera[5] and Maccabi Petah Tikva[6] who were relegated to the 2025–26 Liga Leumit.

Stadiums and locations

[edit]
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Beitar Jerusalem Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 31,733
Bnei Sakhnin Sakhnin Doha Stadium 8,500
F.C. Ashdod Ashdod Yud-Alef Stadium 7,800
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Be'er Sheva Turner Stadium 16,126
Hapoel Haifa Haifa Sammy Ofer Stadium 30,950
Hapoel Jerusalem Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 31,733
Hapoel Petah Tikva Petah Tikva HaMoshava Stadium 11,500
Hapoel Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Bloomfield Stadium 29,400
Ironi Kiryat Shmona Kiryat Shmona Netanya Stadium[7] 13,610
Ironi Tiberias Tiberias Green Stadium[i] 5,200
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Reineh Green Stadium[i] 5,200
Maccabi Haifa Haifa Sammy Ofer Stadium 30,950
Maccabi Netanya Netanya Netanya Stadium 13,610
Maccabi Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Bloomfield Stadium 29,400


Beitar Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Haifa
Maccabi Haifa
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
BERJAYA BERJAYA BERJAYA
Maccabi Netanya
Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Hapoel Petah Tikva Bnei Sakhnin
Netanya Stadium, Netanya HaMoshava Stadium, Petah Tikva Doha Stadium, Sakhnin
BERJAYA BERJAYA BERJAYA
F.C. Ashdod Hapoel Be'er Sheva Ironi Tiberias
Maccabi Bnei Reineh
Yud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod Turner Stadium, Be'er Sheva Green Stadium, Nof HaGalil
BERJAYA BERJAYA BERJAYA

Personnel and sponsorship

[edit]
Team President Manager Captain Kitmaker Shirt sponsor
Beitar Jerusalem Israel Barak Abramov Israel Barak Yitzhaki Israel Yarden Shua Umbro Geshem Holdings
Bnei Sakhnin Israel Mohammed Abu Younes Israel Yossi Abukasis Israel Maroun Gantous Diadora White-Sakhnin Dairies
F.C. Ashdod Israel Rafi Niddam Israel Sharon Mimer Israel Tom Ben Zaken Umbro
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Israel Alona Barkat Israel Ran Kojok Israel Miguel Vítor Umbro Victory
Hapoel Haifa Israel Yoav Katz Israel Haim Silvas Israel Dor Malul Reebok Panorama North
Hapoel Jerusalem Israel Yotam Karmon Israel Lior Zada Israel Awaka Ashta Legea Allon Ventures
Hapoel Petah Tikva Israel Almog Portman Israel Omer Peretz Israel Omer Katz Lotto Mivne Group
Hapoel Tel Aviv Brazil Edmond M. Safra Israel Elyaniv Barda Republic of the Congo Fernand Mayembo Nike IBI Investment
Ironi Kiryat Shmona Israel Izzy Sheratzky Israel Shay Barda Israel Ariel Sheratzky Le Coq Sportif Ituran
Ironi Tiberias Israel Arie Kalmanzon and Mickey Bitan Israel Eliran Hudeda Israel Guy Hadida Le Coq Sportif Yochelman Group
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Israel Saeed Basoul Israel Lior Reuven Israel Eyad Hutba Zeus Sport
Maccabi Haifa Israel Ya'akov Shahar Israel Barak Bakhar Israel Dolev Haziza Adidas Volvo
Maccabi Netanya United States Ross Kestin Israel Ronny Levy Israel Karem Jaber Lotto Sea Breeze
Maccabi Tel Aviv Canada Mitchell Goldhar Scotland Kenny Miller Israel Dor Peretz Puma Pelephone

Managerial changes

[edit]
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Ref.
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Israel Sharon Mimer End of Contract 28 May 2025 Pre-season Israel Slobodan Drapić 28 May 2025 [8]
Maccabi Haifa Israel Itay Mordechai End Caretaker Period 4 June 2025 Argentina Diego Flores 4 June 2025 [9]
Hapoel Haifa Israel Ronny Levy End of contract 6 June 2025 Israel Gal Arel 6 June 2025 [10][11]
Bnei Sakhnin Israel Meni Koretski Sacked 15 June 2025 Israel Sharon Mimer 15 June 2025 [12][13]
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Israel Slobodan Drapić 13 October 2025 13th Israel Adham Hadiya 25 October 2025 [14]
Maccabi Haifa Argentina Diego Flores 20 October 2025 8th Israel Barak Bakhar 21 October 2025 [15]
Maccabi Netanya Israel Yossi Abukasis 11 January 2026 7th Israel Ronny Levy 14 January 2026
F.C. Ashdod Israel Haim Silvas 12 January 2026 11th Israel Nir Bitton (interim) 12 January 2026
Maccabi Tel Aviv Serbia Žarko Lazetić 27 January 2026 3rd Norway Ronny Deila 31 January 2026
Bnei Sakhnin Israel Sharon Mimer Left 13 February 2026 8th Israel Ayman Abu Younes (interim) 13 February 2026
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Israel Adham Hadiya Sacked 14 February 2026 14th Israel Lior Reuven 16 February 2026
Bnei Sakhnin Israel Ayman Abu Younes End Caretaker Period 17 February 2026 8th Israel Yossi Abukasis 17 February 2026
Hapoel Jerusalem Israel Ziv Arie Left 20 April 2026 12th Israel Lior Zada 20 April 2026
F.C. Ashdod Israel Nir Bitton 26 April 2026 11th Israel Sharon Mimer 26 April 2026
Maccabi Tel Aviv Norway Ronny Deila 4 May 2026 3rd Scotland Kenny Miller 4 May 2026

Foreign players

[edit]


The number of foreign players were restricted to eight per team.[16]
In bold: Players that have been capped for their national team.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Non-visa player
Beitar Jerusalem Colombia Brayan Carabalí Cameroon Boris Enow Georgia (country) Luka Gadrani Colombia Jasond González Nigeria Johnbosco Kalu Portugal Miguel Silva Cape Verde Aílson Tavares Ghana Nana Antwi Russia Grigori Morozov
Bnei Sakhnin Republic of the Congo Durel Avounou Croatia Karlo Bručić Ghana Mathew Cudjoe Senegal Ibrahima Dramé Armenia Artur Miranyan Madagascar Johan Nzi Brazil Maicom David Nigeria James Adeniyi
F.C. Ashdod Ghana Eugene Ansah Uganda Timothy Awany Ghana Hayford Boahen Ivory Coast Ibrahim Diakité Democratic Republic of the Congo Karim Kimvuidi Poland Karol Niemczycki Senegal Arial Mendy Nigeria Victor Ochayi
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Senegal Djibril Diop Zambia Kings Kangwa Portugal Hélder Lopes Brazil Lucas Ventura Serbia Igor Zlatanović Jamaica Javon East Bulgaria Yoni Stoyanov
Hapoel Haifa Georgia (country) Sandro Altunashvili Guinea-Bissau Saná Gomes Serbia Ivan Kričak Burkina Faso Régis N'do Brazil Bruno Ramires Croatia Dario Župarić Montenegro Andrija Radulović Sweden Benjamin Machini
Hapoel Jerusalem Kosovo David Domgjoni Nigeria Andrew Idoko Nigeria John Otomewo Montenegro Marko Rakonjac Cyprus Ruel Sotiriou Nigeria Ibeh Ransom
Hapoel Petah Tikva Ivory Coast Boni Amian Cape Verde Clé Mali Mamady Diarra Hungary Márk Koszta Zambia Chipyoka Songa Gabon Alex Moucketou-Moussounda
Hapoel Tel Aviv Ghana Emmanuel Boateng Brazil Chico Guadeloupe Marcus Coco Brazil Falcão Bulgaria Andrian Kraev Cyprus Loizos Loizou Republic of the Congo Fernand Mayembo Portugal Xande Silva
Ironi Kiryat Shmona Ghana Yaw Ackah Nigeria Wale Musa Alli Serbia Nemanja Ljubisavljević Panama Cristian Martínez Peru Adrián Ugarriza Peru Fernando Pacheco Brazil Daniel Tenenbaum
Ironi Tiberias Czech Republic Ondřej Bačo Ukraine Stanislav Bilenkyi Nigeria Peter Michael Portugal Rogério Guinea-Bissau Sambinha Nigeria Muhammed Usman Ukraine Daniel Joulani
Maccabi Bnei Reineh Zambia Emmanuel Banda Moldova Vitalie Damașcan Nigeria Junior Pius Romania Antonio Sefer Serbia Miladin Stevanović Guinea-Bissau Zé Turbo Ivory Coast Christ Tiéhi France Virgile Pinson
Maccabi Haifa Nigeria Peter Agba Belgium Jelle Bataille Angola Manuel Benson Ivory Coast Cédric Franck Don Serbia Đorđe Jovanović Brazil Pedrão Senegal Abdoulaye Seck Jamaica Trivante Stewart France Pierre Cornud
Curaçao Kenji Gorré
Niger Ali Mohamed
Ukraine Heorhiy Yermakov
United States Kenny Saief
Romania Lisav Eissat
Maccabi Netanya Brazil Matheus Davó Ivory Coast Gontie Junior Diomandé Georgia (country) Saba Khvadagiani Ivory Coast Aziz Mohammed Cape Verde Heriberto Tavares Mali Bakary Konaté France Wylan Cyprien Brazil Pedrinho United States Wilson Harris
Maccabi Tel Aviv[ii] Venezuela Kervin Andrade Netherlands Tyrese Asante Serbia Kristijan Belić Guinea Mohamed Ali Camara Brazil Heitor Kosovo Emir Sahiti Mali Issouf Sissokho Cape Verde Hélio Varela Poland Ben Lederman

Regular season

[edit]

Regular season table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva 26 18 5 3 58 25 +33 59 Qualification for the Championship round
2 Beitar Jerusalem 26 17 6 3 61 29 +32 57
3 Maccabi Tel Aviv 26 14 7 5 55 32 +23 49
4 Hapoel Tel Aviv 26 15 6 5 46 26 +20 49[a]
5 Maccabi Haifa 26 11 9 6 50 28 +22 42
6 Hapoel Petah Tikva 26 9 10 7 41 36 +5 37
7 Maccabi Netanya 26 10 5 11 45 55 10 35 Qualification for the Relegation round
8 Bnei Sakhnin 26 8 8 10 27 35 8 32
9 Ironi Kiryat Shmona 26 7 6 13 37 46 9 27
10 Hapoel Haifa 26 6 7 13 31 44 13 25
11 F.C. Ashdod 26 5 9 12 32 50 18 24
12 Hapoel Jerusalem 26 4 9 13 22 37 15 21
13 Ironi Tiberias 26 7 6 13 32 52 20 19[b]
14 Maccabi Bnei Reineh 26 3 3 20 17 59 42 12
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Matches won; 4) Goals scored; 5) Head-to-head points; 6) Head-to-head goal difference; 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Play-off.
Notes:
  1. Hapoel Tel Aviv had 2 points deducted following riot in Maccabi Tel Aviv match.[17]
  2. Ironi Tiberias had 8 points deducted

Regular season results

[edit]
Home \ Away HBS BEI MTA HTA MHA HPT MNE BnS IKS HHA ASH HJE ITI MBR
Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 4–1 7–0 1–0
Beitar Jerusalem 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 5–2 4–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 3–2 1–0
Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–3 2–6 1–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 4–0
Hapoel Tel Aviv 2–1 3–2 0–3 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 3–1
Maccabi Haifa 0–1 1–2 4–1 2–1 0–1 2–3 4–0 4–1 2–0 5–1 2–2 3–2 4–0
Hapoel Petah Tikva 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–0 0–0 3–1 2–2 4–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–2 4–1
Maccabi Netanya 2–4 2–8 1–1 2–0 4–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 5–2 2–1
Bnei Sakhnin 0–5 1–2 0–0 0–0 3–3 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 3–0 0–0 2–0 2–0
Ironi Kiryat Shmona 1–0 1–2 1–4 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 2–2 3–1
Hapoel Haifa 3–4 2–3 1–4 3–3 1–1 2–2 3–4 0–2 0–0 0–2 2–1 2–0 0–1
F.C. Ashdod 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–6 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–2 2–5 4–1 0–2 1–1 2–0
Hapoel Jerusalem 1–5 0–2 1–3 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–0 1–2
Ironi Tiberias 3–0 0–5 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–4 4–0 1–1 2–3 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1
Maccabi Bnei Reineh 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 1–6 0–4 0–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–3
Source: "Ligat Ha'Al – Matches".
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Championship round

[edit]

Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 26 games)[citation needed]

Rounds
27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th
1 – 6
2 – 5
3 – 4
1 – 2
5 – 3
6 – 4
2 – 6
3 – 1
4 – 5
1 – 4
2 – 3
6 – 5
3 – 6
4 – 2
5 – 1
6 – 1
5 – 2
4 – 3
2 – 1
3 – 5
4 – 6
3 – 2
4 – 1
5 – 6
6 – 2
1 – 3
5 – 4
6 – 3
2 – 4
1 – 5

Championship round table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HBS BEI MTA HTA MHA HPT
1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (C) 36 24 7 5 79 38 +41 79 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round 2–2 4–2 2–0 2–5 3–0
2 Beitar Jerusalem 36 22 10 4 78 40 +38 76 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round 1–1 4–2 1–1 3–0 3–1
3 Maccabi Tel Aviv 36 19 9 8 72 46 +26 66 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[a] 1–0 1–2 1–0 3–0 4–0
4 Hapoel Tel Aviv 36 18 8 10 55 35 +20 60[b] Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round 0–2 0–1 1–1 4–0 1–0
5 Maccabi Haifa 36 15 10 11 66 47 +19 55 0–1 3–0 1–3 4–1 1–1
6 Hapoel Petah Tikva 36 9 13 14 48 57 9 40 2–4 0–0 2–2 0–1 1–2
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if two teams tied); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fair play ranking; 10) Drawing of lots.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. The 2025–26 Israel State Cup winners (Maccabi Tel Aviv) qualify for the Europa League second qualifying round.
  2. Hapoel Tel Aviv had 2 points deducted following riot in Maccabi Tel Aviv match.[17]

Relegation round

[edit]

Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 26 games)[citation needed]

Rounds
27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd
7 – 11
8 – 13
9 – 12
10 – 14
11 – 14
12 – 10
13 – 9
7 – 8
8 – 11
9 – 7
10 – 13
14 – 12
11 – 13
7 – 12
8 – 14
9 – 10
10 – 11
14 – 9
12 – 8
13 – 7
11 – 12
13 – 14
7 – 10
8 – 9
9 – 11
10 – 8
14 – 7
12 – 13

Relegation round table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation MNE IKS ITI HHA BnS HJE ASH MBR
7 Maccabi Netanya 33 14 6 13 59 63 4 48 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–1
8 Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona 33 11 7 15 50 53 3 40 1–0 2–0 3–1 2–3
9 Ironi Tiberias 33 12 8 13 45 56 11 36[a] 4–3 2–0 1–0
10 Hapoel Haifa 33 8 10 15 39 51 12 34 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–3
11 Bnei Sakhnin 33 8 10 15 28 49 21 34 0–4 0–0 1–1 0–2
12 Hapoel Jerusalem 33 7 10 16 26 43 17 31 0–2 0–0 1–0
13 F.C. Ashdod (R) 33 6 10 17 38 62 24 28 Relegation to
Liga Leumit
0–3 0–1 1–2
14 Maccabi Bnei Reineh (R) 33 6 4 23 26 69 43 22 1–4 1–1 0–1
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if two teams tied); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fair play ranking; 10) Drawing of lots.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Ironi Tiberias had 8 points deducted

Season statistics

[edit]

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 24 May 2026[18]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Israel Dor Peretz Maccabi Tel Aviv 19
2 Peru Adrián Ugarriza Ironi Kiryat Shmona 18
3 Israel Dan Biton Hapoel Be'er Sheva 15
Israel Yarden Shua Beitar Jerusalem
Israel Omer Atzili Beitar Jerusalem
Israel Guy Melamed Maccabi Haifa
7 Serbia Igor Zlatanović Hapoel Be'er Sheva 14
8 Israel Ido Shahar Maccabi Tel Aviv 13
Jamaica Javon East Hapoel Haifa / Hapoel Be'er Sheva
10 Israel Stav Turiel Hapoel Tel Aviv 12
Israel Guy Hadida Ironi Tiberias
Zambia Kings Kangwa Hapoel Be'er Sheva

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. 1 2 The team play their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground does not meet league requirements.[citation needed]
  2. Ion Nicolaescu as Suspended registration

References

[edit]
  1. rounds 25-26 Played Behind closed doors due to the 2026 Iran war
  2. Lipkin, Gidi (3 July 2024). "Toto Winner - the sponsor of the Premier League in football". One (in Hebrew). Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. "Welcome back: Hapoel Petah Tikva was promoted to the Premier League". sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  4. "Hapoel Tel Aviv returned to the Premier League with 1-0 over Ramat Gan". one.co.il (in Hebrew). 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  5. "After 7 years: Hapoel Hadera was relegated to the National League". israelhayom.co.il (in Hebrew). 19 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  6. "After two season: Maccabi Petah Tikva was relegated to the National League". one.co.il (in Hebrew). 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  7. Temporarily, Due the Gaza war the team play their home games at a neutral venue
  8. "Bnei Reineh breaks part with Sharon Mimer, Slobodan Drapić is appointed". sports.walla (in Hebrew). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  9. "The Argentinian coach Diego Flores signed with Maccabi Haifa". ynet.co.il (in Hebrew). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  10. "Roni Levy is leaving, Gal Aral is expected to be the coach". sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  11. "Officially: Gal Arel was appointed a new coach of Hapoel Haifa". sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  12. "After 3 months: Menachem Koretsky leaves Bnei Sakhnin". sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  13. "Officially: Sharon Mimar was appointed a new coach of Bnei Sakhnin". ynet.co.il (in Hebrew). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  14. "Bnei Reineh breaks part with Sharon Mimer, Slobodan Drapić is appointed". sports.walla (in Hebrew). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  15. "After 7 matchs: Diego Flores sacked from maccabi haifa". ynet.co.il (in Hebrew). 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  16. "The Association confirmed: to share 8 foreigners in the Premier League". Sport 5 sports (in Hebrew). 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  17. 1 2 Psheatski, Moti (3 November 2025). "Hapoel Tel Aviv's punishment: a two-point deduction and a 3:0 technical loss by w/o due attendance riot loss in the derby". SPORT 5. Retrieved 3 November 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. "Winner League stats". football.co.il.