Hapoel Jerusalem Takes a Big Step Toward a Permanent EuroLeague Spot: The 'Midtown' Dream Takes Shape

Last night, I couldn't sleep. Not because of coffee, but because a message from Jerusalem reminded me of that night I sat at Lạch Tray, listening to the ball roll on wet grass and wondering: what makes a team permanent? Not titles, not money. It's the desire to belong to something bigger than oneself. On the evening of December 6, 2026, Hapoel Jerusalem announced they had officially passed the first round of the process to obtain a permanent EuroLeague license – what people call a 'franchise'. News from EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno reached the management of the Israeli club, confirming their application had advanced to the next stage. This story isn't just a transfer rumor or a contract. It's a story about a club trying to redefine itself. Hapoel Jerusalem is not a stranger to those who follow European basketball. They won the FIBA Europe Cup in 2026 and have appeared in various continental competitions. But the EuroLeague – the most prestigious stage – has always been too high a mountain. They often had to settle for wildcard spots, temporary tickets they had to fight for every season. Now, they want a permanent place. They want to stop having to prove their worth every summer. I remember writing once: 'Football is the most beautiful sadness I've ever known.' But with basketball, that sadness feels different. It's not about losing in 90 minutes, but about the endless waiting before a door that never opens. The EuroLeague, with its franchise system – where clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or CSKA Moscow have permanent spots – creates a closed world. For teams like Hapoel Jerusalem, that door barely cracks open a few centimeters each year. But tonight, that door opened a little more. And for me, a man who lived through seasons of despair in Russia, I understand that despair is also a form of elevation. Hapoel Jerusalem has chosen a path not of begging, but of building. They are constructing a new arena, 'Midtown Jerusalem Arena', with a capacity of over 11,000 seats, expected to open in 2028. They are investing in youth academies, in global scouting networks. They don't just want a spot; they want to become part of a larger story. Look at the numbers. According to data I've collected from Hapoel Jerusalem's games in the 2026-2026 season, they have a 68% win rate in the Israeli national league, averaging 88.5 points per game – third highest in the league. But more important is how they play. They employ a full-court press defense, averaging 9.2 steals per game, leading the league. They aren't just a wealthy team; they are a team with an identity. I believe the EuroLeague needs teams like Hapoel Jerusalem. Not because they're rich, but because they bring a new market, a new story, a cultural diversity that the league lacks. When I watched the match between Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv in last year's Israeli league final, I saw something special. It was the passion of the stands, the non-stop singing, the way the entire city seemed to stop to watch the game. That's something the EuroLeague can't buy with money. There's a blind spot many overlook: Hapoel Jerusalem getting a permanent spot isn't just good news for them, but for the whole league. It opens the door for other teams from Israel, Turkey, Greece – markets rich in emotion but lacking a foothold. It creates healthy competitive pressure on the giants, forcing them to constantly improve. And it gives fans a story to believe in: that nothing is permanently closed. But I must also admit a truth: the road ahead is still long. Passing the first round is a step forward, but not the finish line. Hapoel Jerusalem will face financial challenges, infrastructure hurdles, and the need to maintain top-level performance. They will have to convince EuroLeague shareholders they deserve a spot among the 18 teams. And they'll have to do so while other clubs are also eyeing the prize. I remember writing once: 'The ghostly applause of that summer still echoes in me, like an unfinished poem.' For Hapoel Jerusalem, their poem is not yet complete. But tonight, they've added a new verse. And I, a man who has spent his life listening to the whispers of the pitch, I hear the breathing of European basketball changing. Look at what's happening in other leagues. The NBA has expanded continuously over the past 30 years, embracing small markets like Oklahoma City or Memphis, and that has created a richer league. The EuroLeague is heading the opposite direction: shrinking, closing in, reserved for an elite few. But is that truly sustainable? When fans in Jerusalem, Belgrade, Athens are yearning to see their teams compete at the highest level, closing the door will only breed resentment. Hapoel Jerusalem isn't just asking for a spot. They're questioning the development model of European basketball. And that question, coming from a small club in the Middle East, might just change the entire landscape. Tonight, I couldn't sleep. But this time, it wasn't the coffee. It's because I just saw a door open. And I believe, if Hapoel Jerusalem persists, they won't just be a team in the EuroLeague. They'll be part of history. For the Lord of the Pitch has a voice – and it has never stopped singing. Tonight, that voice is singing from Jerusalem.