WITH EUROLEAGUE basketball set to return to Israel, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv gear up for home action once again. (photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFFThu, November 27, 2025 at 11:26 PM UTC·2 min readEuroleague basketball is returning to Israel in December, with games set to resume at Menora Mivtachim Arena and Jerusalem’s Pais Arena.
After more than two years of hosting games abroad, Euroleague and EuroCup basketball will return to Israel following a unanimous vote by Euroleague member clubs. The decision clears the way for Israeli teams to resume playing home games at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Pais Arena beginning in mid-December.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to reports in Greece, all Euroleague clubs – including Turkish and Spanish teams – supported the move. The first European game scheduled to take place in Israel will be Hapoel Jerusalem’s home matchup against Hamburg on December 9, followed by Maccabi Tel Aviv hosting ASVEL on December 11. Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to return home on December 16 when it faces Crvena Zvezda.
Israeli teams stopped hosting games in the country due to the war in Gaza, and discussions about a potential return had taken place in recent months. A Euroleague delegation visited Tel Aviv last week to review the situation following the end of the conflict and the city’s gradual return to routine, conducting on-site security assessments and meeting with government officials. Their findings played a significant role in shaping the final decision.
Euroleague confirms return
Euroleague later issued an official statement confirming the return. Member clubs met on November 27 to evaluate the current conditions in Israel, building on an earlier announcement that had identified December 1 as a possible restart date. During the meeting, clubs reviewed the details of the delegation’s visit, including safety protocols that will be implemented and the results of consultations with domestic and international authorities, visiting teams, and relevant professional organizations such as the players’, coaches’, and referees’ unions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing deliberations, the league approved the activation of its return plan, allowing EuroCup games to resume beginning with Round 10 and Euroleague games with Round 15. Hapoel Jerusalem’s matchup on December 9 will mark the first European club game held in Israel since October 2023.
MACCABI TEL AVIV’S Lonnie Walker hangs from the rim after an emphatic dunk for two of his game-high 31 points in the yellow-and-blue’s 102-75 league victory over Hapoel Holon at Menora Mivtachim Arena. (credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)The league emphasized that it will continue to monitor developments closely and remain in constant communication with local and international authorities, visiting clubs, and all relevant bodies to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans. The return plan requires full cooperation with the national government guidelines regarding the travel of teams to Israel.
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