Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 13, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 13, 2026
In first since Oct. 7, UEFA said to decide to hold soccer games in Israel
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Maccabi Tel Aviv players react as a penalty is awarded to Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park in Birmingham on November 6, 2025. (Oli SCARFF / AFP)
The Union of European Football Associations has, in principle, decided to allow Israel to host the league’s soccer games for the first time since October 7, 2023, the Ynet news site reports.
According to the report, the Israel Football Association has received an optimistic message from the league and has been told to prepare to host teams this summer.
UEFA matches were halted indefinitely shortly after the Hamas-led massacre that sparked the war in Gaza, and Israeli teams played all their games in host countries in Europe.
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