The UEFA Cup is the second most important international competition for European football clubs after the UEFA Champions League. Clubs qualify to the major event based on the performances in national leagues and cup competitions.
Assured of complying with the standards and security of the European soccer’s governing body, the Israel Football Association has forwarded its offer to host either the UEFA Cup final or the Champions League final in 2010 or 2011.
The venues for staging the 2007-08 and 2008-09 UEFA Cup finals have already been decided.
Since 1991, Israeli clubs have been participating in European competitions, but received the full UEFA membership in 1994.
The criterion to host a Champions League final demands a stadium able to seat at least 70,000 spectators while the National Stadium in Tel Aviv holds just 44,000. However, IFA is quiet positive that the stadium requires major rebuilding to enhance the sitting capacity to a minimum of 70,000, which would be ready by 2010.
