Ligat Ha'al (Israel) 2026/27

Ligat Ha'al stands as the premier tier of Israeli football, operating under the oversight of the Israel Football Association. Established in 1999, the competition replaced the former Liga Leumit, which subsequently dropped to the second level. The structure now involves fourteen clubs navigating a season divided into distinct phases. After a regular schedule of twenty-six matches played in a double round-robin format, the standings split. The top six teams enter a championship playoff, facing each other twice more, while the bottom eight contest a relegation playoff with single matches. Points accumulated during the regular season carry over into these decisive periods.

A notable characteristic defining the league is the specific regulation regarding foreign players. Teams may register up to eight non-Israeli players; however, exemptions apply to those covered by the Law of Return, spouses of citizens, Druze from the Golan Heights, and long-term residents. This rule distinguishes the competition from other regional tournaments. The league has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship agreements, appearing variously as Ligat Pelephone, Ligat Toto, and Ligat ONE ZERO. It operates independently from the Israel State Cup, which functions as a separate knockout tournament.

Maccabi Tel Aviv holds the record for the most titles, having won the top-division championship twenty-six times. The club also secured the title in the 2024–25 season, reigning as the current champion. The 1999 reform that created the current structure aimed to enhance professionalism and the overall quality of the game. Two teams are relegated to Liga Leumit each season, with two promoted in return. The format ensures that the standings are determined by both consistency throughout the year and performance in the final stages.