The current season is nearing its end as Maccabi Tel Aviv still has plenty to fight for, however, the Football Administration has published information about the upcoming 2018/19 season.
If you’re one that likes to plan in advance, then you might as well begin marking up your day planners with all of the details below which also includes changes to the Toto Cup competition.
The 2018/19 season begins on August 25, 2018 and ends on May 25, 2019.
Toto Cup changes
The 2018/19 season will feature a format change to the Toto Cup competition. We may not yet know where Maccabi will finish on the table this season, but we do know that a club that plays in Europe next season will begin the Toto Cup in the quarterfinals and not the group stages.
The league champion and cup holder will face each other in the Champions Cup and the winner will enter the competition in the semifinals while the 2 other clubs who will be playing in Europe will battle for a place in the semis as well. The balance of the Israel Premier League teams will play in the Toto Cup group stages which will be shorter than in previous seasons.
In any case, Maccabi will play this first match on July 28-29 either in the group stages or against one of the other teams playing in Europe which will be the opening domestic contest of the season. The Toto Cup Final will be played much earlier than previous years and will take place near the end of the September.
Breaks
The Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al begins on August 25th and following Matchday 2 there will be an International Break between September 3-15. There will be an additional International Break in October from the 8th until the 20th.
In addition, there will a pitch winterization from November 13th and December 1st and there will not be any League matches during that time.
State Cup
The Israel Premier League teams will begin play in the Round of 32 just as in past seasons and the first games will be played between December 20-24.
