EuroLeague cannot bring Israeli teams back home yet: Abu Dhabi meeting and evaluation visit in the next two weeks

As geopolitical tensions continue to loom over the Middle East, the fate of three Israeli teams in the EuroLeague has been reshaped following a high-level meeting in Abu Dhabi. Maccabi Tel Aviv still cannot play on home soil, and the EuroLeague has declared that the situation remains unchanged from previous seasons. This was confirmed by Maccabi Tel Aviv in an official statement on Saturday, after club president Shimon Mizrahi and sporting director Claudio Coldebella held an extensive meeting with EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno and competitions director Diego Gijón in Abu Dhabi. The result: no changes to the current status of the Israeli teams. That means three Israeli teams competing in EuroLeague competitions — including Maccabi Tel Aviv, the 2026 EuroLeague champion — must continue playing their home games outside Israeli territory. The reason is no mystery: the security situation in the Middle East and the ongoing international conflict. However, there is a positive signal within the statement: Bueno and Gijón will travel to Israel in the next two weeks, at the invitation of Maccabi Tel Aviv, to conduct an evaluation visit assessing the security conditions on the ground and the possibility of bringing games back to Israel in the future. This is a strategic diplomatic move by Maccabi Tel Aviv. Rather than waiting for a decision from EuroLeague headquarters, the club's leadership proactively invited the league's highest-ranking officials to see the reality firsthand. This shows Maccabi Tel Aviv wants not only to accelerate the resolution process but also to control the media narrative in its favor. In a broader context, this situation is not new. Since the conflict escalated in autumn 2026, Israeli teams in the EuroLeague have grown accustomed to constant travel, hosting so-called home games that actually take place in neutral European cities. This creates a rare paradox in professional basketball: the home-court advantage has been nearly eliminated, and Israeli fans cannot attend games in person. The scale of the issue is clear: three Israeli teams participate in European competitions, with Maccabi Tel Aviv being the most historically decorated. In the 2026-24 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv played its home games in Belgrade, Serbia, before moving to various other venues. The 2026-25 season is no different. The instability in schedule and venue makes maintaining form, retaining players, and building connections with fans far more difficult than for other European clubs. From a professional standpoint, playing away from home for extended periods affects multiple aspects. First, long travel distances reduce player recovery time, directly impacting practice quality and performance. Second, operational costs increase due to venue rental, full-team travel, and accommodation arrangements. Third, there is a psychological factor — when players cannot perform before home crowds, their motivation and sense of belonging to the club erode over time. From a governance perspective, the EuroLeague's move shows a cautious approach. Sending the CEO and competitions director to Israel within two weeks is a clear commitment that the league values the presence of Israeli teams. However, refusing to make any changes at this point is equally clear: the EuroLeague prioritizes safety and organizational stability over the commercial potential of returning games to Israel. The big question observers of European basketball are asking: will this evaluation visit truly open a return path for the three Israeli teams, or is it simply a measure to reassure fans and sponsors? Based on previous developments, it may be more prudent to expect that the current situation will last at least through the 2026-26 season. Another notable point is that the meeting took place in Abu Dhabi. This could be coincidental due to EuroLeague officials' schedules, but it could also reflect a larger strategy: Arab Gulf states are actively investing in global sports, and European basketball is within their scope. If Abu Dhabi becomes a potential neutral venue for Israeli teams' games, that would be a significant development both commercially and geopolitically. For Maccabi Tel Aviv, proactively inviting EuroLeague leaders to Israel shows the club leadership is turning a reactive position into a proactive one. Mizrahi, one of the most powerful figures in Israeli basketball history, understands that maintaining a strong relationship with the EuroLeague is vital for the club's long-term development. That is why Maccabi Tel Aviv's strategy is not confrontation but persuasion through diplomatic channels. Looking at the bigger picture, this story extends beyond a single basketball club. It touches on how an international sports league can maintain competitive integrity when one of its member countries faces a complex security situation. In EuroLeague history, there has never been a precedent of a team playing at neutral venues for multiple consecutive seasons like this. One of the most concerning potential long-term effects is the impact on the roster quality of the three Israeli teams. If this situation persists, attracting foreign players could become harder as players worry about the stability of the playing environment. Israeli players competing in Europe may also consider destinations not affected by geopolitical factors. However, there is a positive side fans can see: the EuroLeague maintaining three Israeli teams on its participation list demonstrates that the league values diversity and the resilience of the European basketball ecosystem. Maccabi Tel Aviv, with its rich history and stable operational budget, has proven its ability to adapt to the most unusual conditions. On the data side, it must be emphasized that Maccabi Tel Aviv's record on neutral courts has remained relatively stable. This may be the result of a professional management system, proper logistics investment, and players' adaptability. But to sustain this in the long term, the club will need continued support from the EuroLeague — not just moral support but financial and organizational backing as well. The evaluation visit by Bueno and Gijón in the next two weeks will be an important signal to watch. If the EuroLeague issues a concrete roadmap with clear timelines after this trip, that would be substantive progress. Conversely, if the post-visit statement remains open-ended without commitments, the situation will likely continue, with the security variable as the ultimate deciding factor. In any case, the most important thing for Israeli basketball fans is patience. European basketball is witnessing an unprecedented situation, and the way stakeholders handle it will set a precedent for similar situations in the future — not only in the EuroLeague but also in other international sports competitions. With club president Mizrahi and sporting director Coldebella directly involved in the meeting, it is clear Maccabi Tel Aviv is giving this issue maximum priority. And the EuroLeague's response — sending its two highest-ranking officials on an evaluation visit — shows the Israeli issue is not just a single club's story; it is the league's story. The outcome of this visit, whether positive or negative, will shape the future of Israeli basketball on the European stage in the seasons ahead.