Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Dinamo Zagreb to meet in Europa League

Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Dinamo Zagreb are set to face each other in the first round of the Europa League group stage on September 16, 2026. Due to security concerns in Israel, Hapoel Be’er Sheva will play their home match at the Giulești Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, rather than in their home country.

The venue has drawn significant criticism regarding its playing surface. Daniel Pancu, the coach of Rapid Bucharest, described the pitch quality as being at the level of a third or fourth division league, calling the situation “shameful.” He expressed concerns that the pitch will deteriorate further with continued use and suggested a complete replacement is necessary.

Both teams enter the match showing inconsistent form in their domestic leagues. Hapoel Be’er Sheva recently suffered a 1-4 loss to Hapoel Petah Tikva, while Dinamo Zagreb lost 2-4 to Osijek in their most recent outing.