International Courant
Seoul World Cup Stadium might be some of the partisan and intimidating soccer arenas in Asia. The unwavering devotion – bordering on obsession – of South Korean followers could make even the largest groups really feel uncomfortable on this cauldron.
Nevertheless, on Thursday, dwelling followers proudly displayed flags, scarves and banners in help of South Korea’s opponent: Palestine.
Amid a sea of crimson shirts, matching the house staff’s uniform, flags expressing help for the visiting staff have been hung in giant areas of the 66,000-capacity stadium.
The electrical environment set the scene for Palestine’s first ever match within the third spherical of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
A South Korean fan holds a banner studying “South Korea and Palestine, let’s go to the World Cup collectively” throughout their match on the Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 5, 2024 (Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
It was additionally an unforgettable night on the pitch, as coach Makram Daboub’s staff took a deserved and helpful level after a 0-0 draw towards the giants of Asian soccer, due to the rock-solid goalkeeping of Rami Hamadeh and the poor ending of South Korea.
Whereas pre-match favourites Taegeuk Warriors have been denied a house win, Palestine have been additionally disenchanted by Jo Hyeon-woo’s advantageous stoppage-time save to disclaim Wessam Abou Ali a historic successful objective.
If there was any remorse, it was swept away by the blissful scenes that have been unfolding at full pace.
Broad smiles and heat hugs concluded a historic night for the gamers and employees, who’ve taken on the duty of representing Palestine on the largest levels whereas conflict continues of their homeland of Gaza.
The Lions of Canaan took the sector with the agency perception of their capacity to attain their dream: reaching the World Cup.
“I all the time dream,” Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid informed Al Jazeera forward of the qualifiers.
“They (the Israeli Protection Forces) are attempting to kill our goals, however we can’t allow them to stand in our method. We will by no means cease dreaming.”
“It is likely one of the easiest and most elementary human rights on earth. All of us have the correct to dream. I do know it’s troublesome to succeed in the World Cup ultimate, however all the things is feasible in soccer.
“Being on this place (throughout qualifying) is already a dream, and taking the following step is one other.”
Palestine’s Rami Hamade, proper, celebrates his victory after the match towards South Korea (Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Elevating the flag for Palestine
Because the staff tackles its challenges towards 2026, Palestinians in Gaza stay targets of Israeli forces, which have killed greater than 40,000 individuals and wounded greater than 94,000, in accordance with the Gaza Ministry of Well being. In Israel, 1,139 individuals have been killed within the Hamas-led assaults on Oct. 7 that sparked the present conflict.
The almost year-long conflict has additionally had an affect on soccer, the most well-liked sport in Palestine, and on the Palestinian soccer staff.
Based on the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation, a minimum of 410 athletes, sports activities officers or coaches had been killed within the conflict as of August. Of those, 297 have been footballers, together with 84 youngsters who dreamed of enjoying for Palestine.
After the conflict started, Susan Shalabi, vice-president of the Palestine Soccer Affiliation (PFA), started recording the deaths of individuals linked to the game in Gaza. It was her try to humanize the numbers and inform their tales.
Nevertheless, she needed to cease as she struggled to maintain up with the rising numbers and address the emotional toll of the loss.
The trauma of conflict and the lack of family and friends additionally have an effect on the gamers.
“No human being, whether or not Palestinian or not, can see what is going on and never be affected by it,” stated Palestinian worldwide Rashid.
He then reveals his coping mechanism: “Two days earlier than the match, I attempt my finest to not watch the information as a result of it actually impacts us.”
Rashid stated that whereas different gamers cope with their feelings in a different way, there isn’t a denying that it’s “fairly troublesome” for everybody to proceed enjoying.
He explains that “flying the flag for Palestine” means greater than any final result.
“There’s extra than simply soccer,” stated the Ramallah-born participant.
The 29-year-old stated the staff performs for all Palestinians at dwelling, for all Palestinians overseas and in refugee camps all over the world.
“We by no means play for ourselves. After we play for the nationwide staff, we symbolize the whole Palestinian neighborhood all over the world.”
Palestine gamers rejoice their AFC Asian Cup match towards Hong Kong in Doha (File: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters)
A house away from dwelling
After the attract Seoul, Palestine’s first match within the qualifiers, the staff travelled to Kuala Lumpur to ‘host’ Jordan within the Malaysian capital.
For the reason that October 7 assaults in southern Israel and the following conflict, Palestine has not been in a position to play a single worldwide match.
They have been as a consequence of host Australia on the Faisal Al-Husseini Worldwide Stadium in ar-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, in November, however safety issues dictated in any other case. It could have been their first match on dwelling soil since a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in October 2019.
Within the earlier spherical of World Cup qualifiers, Palestine’s dwelling video games have been performed in Kuwait and Qatar, whereas Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Algeria additionally signed up as hosts.
Malaysia, a staunch ally of Palestine, provided the identical and to restrict journey from Seoul, Kuala Lumpur was chosen to host the tasty, all-Arab tie.
Though Palestine enjoys robust help from the native inhabitants and the Palestinian neighborhood in Malaysia, there isn’t a substitute for taking part in at dwelling.
Protesters march throughout a pro-Palestine demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 28, 2023 (Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters)
It stays to be seen whether or not Palestine will be capable of play their subsequent dwelling match towards Kuwait on October 15.
Though FIFA has granted conditional approval for the PFA to host matches on the Faisal Al-Husseini Worldwide Stadium, the logistics usually are not easy. And till the PFA can flip hope into actuality, Palestine can be pressured to seek out impartial venues for his or her dwelling video games.
They draw energy from the information that a number of international locations wish to host Palestine.
“It means so much to us,” PFA’s Shalabi defined. “We really feel that we’re not alone, and that is essential for a people who find themselves besieged, tortured and killed.”
To attain Palestine’s dream of reaching the 2026 North American World Cup, they have to obtain one in all two eventualities: end among the many high two groups of their group (which incorporates South Korea and Jordan, in addition to Iraq, Oman and Kuwait) or end the present spherical in third or fourth place and advance to the fourth spherical, the place six groups will compete for the ultimate two automated spots.
The official FIFA males’s rankings place Palestine (96) far behind South Korea (22), Iraq (55) and Jordan (68), making it look troublesome for them to complete forward of these three international locations. Nevertheless, it is rather potential that they might end third or fourth and nonetheless have an opportunity of qualifying.
Hope for the Palestinian individuals
There’s little doubt that the staff represents hope for the Palestinian individuals. The story of PFA Deputy Basic Secretary Sami Abu Al Hussein exhibits how.
Al Hussein determined to separate his relations to forestall each of his youngsters from dying in an Israeli assault. In the event that they have been in several places, he thought, one would survive if the opposite didn’t.
Regardless of the conflict and the division of his household, Al Hussein known as his colleague Shalabi to precise his enthusiasm for the qualifying rounds and to voice the feelings of the individuals who have been looking for a brief break from the conflict.
“It symbolizes the hope that the staff represents for Palestine,” stated Shalabi, who can be a member of the Asian Soccer Confederation’s govt committee.
“We’re so pleased with them as a result of with what they’re doing now, they’re giving a voice to all of Palestine, particularly to these dwelling below this genocide in Gaza,” she stated.
“If all they might obtain was make a baby in Gaza smile, they might have completed sufficient.”
The grandmother, middle, of Palestinian defender and captain Musab al-Battat prays as she watches the 2023 AFC Asian Cup soccer match between Qatar and Palestine at their household dwelling within the village of al-Dhahiriya south of Hebron within the occupied West Financial institution on January 29, 2024. (Hazem Bader/AFP)
Amid Israel’s conflict on Gaza, Palestine dares to dream of 2026 FIFA World Cup | Soccer Information
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