The 2025/26 season is just around the corner – who will Hapoel face in the league opener, what's the Toto Cup schedule, and when is the derby? All the answers are in the article below.

This afternoon (Thursday), the Israeli Premier League administration held the official draw for the 2025/26 season fixtures in both the Winner League and the Toto Cup.

In the Toto Cup, Hapoel was placed in Group B. The match schedule is as follows:

In the Winner League, Hapoel will open the season at Bloomfield Stadium against Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

On Matchday 3, Hapoel will host Beitar Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv derby will take place at home on Matchday 7, and on Matchday 12, Hapoel will visit Maccabi Haifa.

Below is the full fixture list for the first and second rounds of the Winner League:

Please note: Match dates are not final and are subject to change.

The 20-year-old winger, who was named Breakthrough Player of the Season: "Proud to sign with a big club, grateful for the trust in me and can't wait to get started."

Mor Buskila has signed with the club for four years.

Buskila (20) played last season for the senior team of Hapoel Ramat Gan and was named the Breakthrough Player of the Season in the National League, thanks to seven goals and eight assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. This past March, he made his debut for the Olympic national team in a friendly match against Cyprus.

After signing, Buskila said: "I’m proud and excited to sign with a big club like Hapoel Tel Aviv. From the very first moment, I felt how much the club believes in me and wants me to play here. I can’t wait for the first training session and to meet our amazing fans in the stadiums. Yalla Hapoel!"

Good luck, Mor!

Ben Ze’ev to Lead the Team in the 2025/26 Season: “Proud to be at a club that believes in women’s soccer — a long road and a lot of work ahead of us”

The club’s women’s senior team is kicking off preparations for the 2025/26 season with the signing of Ofer Ben Ze’ev for another year as the team’s head coach.

Ben Ze’ev (22) joined the club last summer as assistant coach of the mens team and was appointed head coach of the women’s senior team this past January — a role he will continue in this coming season.

After signing, Ben Ze’ev said:
“I’m proud to be part of a club that believes in women’s soccer and works every day to promote it. Our goal is clear: to become a leading club in Israel, constantly raising the bar. There’s a long road and a lot of work ahead of us״.

Oshrat Eni, Director of Women’s and Girls’ soccer, added: “I’m happy that Ofer Ben Ze’ev will continue working with Hapoel Tel Aviv’s womens team, and for the trust shown by one of the most respected and talented coaches in Israeli women’s soccer in our women’s and girls’ department. We’ve found a true partner to Hapoel’s path and values — and now, it’s time to get to work and bring our vision for the club to life״.

Good luck, Ofer!

Wiesinger to lead the club’s oldest youth team: “I see the determination, the renewal, and the ambition – I have no doubt this is the right place for me.”

Shahar Wiesinger is joining Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth department and will coach the club’s oldest youth team (U19).

Wiesinger, 29, began his coaching career in the youth department of Maccabi Haifa, serving as assistant coach for the U16, U17, and U19 teams.

In the 2021/22 season, he was appointed assistant coach of the senior team at Hapoel Afula in the National League. Later that year, he was promoted to head coach and led the team to stay in the league. The following season, he continued to lead the northern club, finishing second in the bottom playoff and reaching the quarterfinals of the State Cup.

For the past two years, Shahar served as assistant coach for the senior team of Maccabi Haifa.

After signing, Wiesinger said:
“I’m happy to join one of the biggest clubs in Israel, a club known for developing young players. My growth in recent years has been as a coach in senior teams, but as soon as I received the offer to coach Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth team, I saw the determination, the renewal, and the desire to grow – and I had no doubt this is the right place for me.”

Omer Buksanbaum, the club’s Technical Director:
“I’m happy that Shahar is joining us. We were looking for a coach who fits the club’s values and our professional vision, and Shahar is undoubtedly that person. He’s a talented coach with significant experience in developing young players, and I’m confident that just as he’s done elsewhere – he’ll do the same at Hapoel Tel Aviv. I wish him great success, welcome him to the red family, and look forward to working together.”

Assaf Grinstein, Head of Youth Development:
“We’re pleased to appoint Shahar Wiesinger as head coach of our U19 team. Shahar brings with him extensive experience in coaching both youth and senior teams, and I’m sure the knowledge and expertise he’s gained will help our players in the club’s top youth age group develop and advance – and eventually integrate into the senior team as well. Our ultimate goal remains to continue promoting young players into the senior squad, as we’ve done in recent years – and we’ll provide them with everything they need to succeed.”

Good luck, Shahar!

The 27-year-old striker strengthens the attacking line: "I'm happy that the wheel of life has turned in my favor. I promise to give my blood for our amazing fans".

Striker Anas Mahamid has signed with the club on a three-year deal.

Mahamid (27) joined the club’s youth team in the summer of 2015 and simultaneously made 15 appearances for the senior team over a season and a half. He later played for Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Acre, Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam, Winterthur in Switzerland, Shimshon Kafr Qasim, and Hapoel Umm al-Fahm.

Over the past two years, he played for Maccabi Petah Tikva, where he made 61 appearances across all competitions and scored 14 goals.

After signing, Mahamid said: "Life is like a wheel, and I’m very happy that this time it turned in my favor. I’m thrilled to come full circle and return to the club that’s close to my heart, where I began my senior career about ten years ago. I’m already counting the minutes and can’t wait to step onto the pitch at Bloomfield in front of our amazing fans. I promise to give my blood for them and make them happy and proud. Yalla Hapoel!"

Good luck, Anas!

The left-back returns to his boyhood club: "Excited to come back, I truly believe we're heading toward a good season."

Left-back Doron Leidner is coming home on a one-year contract, with a purchase option from Olympiacos at the end of the season. Doron will wear jersey number 16.

Leidner (23) joined Hapoel from Maccabi Petah Tikva at the U-16 level and has since played for all of the club's youth teams. He made his debut for the senior team in May 2020, in a 2–1 win over Maccabi Haifa – and went on to play in all matches that season (11 in all competitions).

In the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, he was a key player for the team, making 55 appearances across all competitions, scoring once and providing five assists.

In the summer of 2022, Leidner was sold to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. After half a year, he was loaned to Austria Wien, where he made 10 appearances, scoring and assisting once. In the past season, he was loaned again from Olympiacos, this time to Swiss club FC Zurich, where he made five appearances for the first team.

Additionally, he has made eight appearances for Israel’s senior national team and nine for the Olympic team.

After signing, Leidner said: "There’s no one more excited than me to return to the club where I grew up. Even when I played elsewhere, I always felt connected to Hapoel. I was moved by the many messages I received from fans – and the great love I got from them is one of the reasons I came back. I truly believe we’re heading into a good and successful season. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Doron!

The Congolese center-back will lead the defensive line: “I’m here to help the team achieve its ambitious goals and can’t wait to play for our amazing fans”.

Center-back Fernand Mayembo has signed with the club for two years and will wear jersey number 5.

Mayembo (29) played for Hapoel Haifa over the past two seasons, making 62 appearances in all competitions — and was one of the league’s standout defenders last season.

He began his senior career at Chamois Niortais in France’s Ligue 2. In January 2017, he was loaned to Grenoble, where he continued for another season before transferring to Le Havre, also in Ligue 2, where he played for four years and made 91 appearances in all competitions.

In the summer of 2022, he signed with AC Ajaccio in France’s Ligue 1, making 11 appearances in the top flight.

He has also earned 18 caps for the Congo national team.

After signing, Mayembo said: “I’m very happy to join Hapoel Tel Aviv, a massive club in Israeli football. I’ve heard a lot about the club’s history and saw firsthand the power of our amazing fans - I can’t wait to start playing for them. I’ve come to help the team achieve its ambitious goals, and I’m confident we’re heading into a successful season. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Fernand!

One of the top goalkeepers in the Israeli Premier League joins the squad – and will guard Hapoel’s goal: “I come with full commitment and a strong desire to be part of the club’s return to the main stage.”

Goalkeeper Assaf Tzur has signed with the club for two years, with an option for an additional season, and will guard the team’s goal starting from the upcoming season.

Tzur (26) played the past three seasons at Ironi Kiryat Shmona. In his second season, he helped the team gain promotion to the Premier League, and in the third season (2024/25), he was one of the league’s standout goalkeepers, making 29 appearances, saving 126 shots on target (the most in the league), and keeping nine clean sheets.

Tzur came up through the youth ranks at Hapoel Petah Tikva, and in the 2016/17 season moved to Hapoel Ra’anana, where he initially played for the youth team – but also made two senior appearances that season. Over the next three years, he was the starting goalkeeper for the Sharon-based team in the Israeli Premier League, making 79 appearances in all competitions. At the start of the 2021/22 season, he transferred to Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus, where he played for two seasons and made 18 appearances.

After signing, Assaf said: “I’m happy and excited to join Hapoel Tel Aviv. I come with full commitment and a strong desire to be part of the club’s return to the main stage of the Premier League – and I can’t wait to start the season, meet the fans and my new teammates. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Assaf!