Palestine achieved a historic milestone by securing a spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever, following a goalless draw against Lebanon in Doha.
Despite the challenging conditions and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Palestinian national team has marked another significant accomplishment this year by making its first appearance in the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup.
In Thursday’s match, Palestine entered the game with seven points in Group A, needing only a draw to advance. The team successfully achieved this despite facing aggressive tactics from the Lebanese team, which received seven yellow cards.
This qualification marks the fourth consecutive time the Palestinian team has made it to the AFC Asian Cup finals, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The Palestinian team, led by coach Makram Dabboub, is set to face Australia on June 11. The Australian team recently secured a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Palestine and Lebanon are in the final group of the AFC World Cup qualifiers, which also includes Australia and Bangladesh. This group stage is crucial for determining which teams will advance further in the competition.
Palestine’s recent achievements on the international football stage highlight the team’s resilience and growing prowess.
The upcoming matches will be a testament to their skill and determination as they continue to strive for excellence.