The Seoul World Cup Stadium could be some of the partisan and intimidating soccer arenas in Asia. The unwavering devotion – bordering on obsession – of the South Korean followers could make the largest groups really feel uncomfortable on this cauldron.
On Thursday, although, the house followers proudly displayed flags, scarves and banners in help of South Korea’s opponents – Palestine.
Amid a sea of pink shirts, reflecting the color of the house workforce’s package, massive pockets of the 66,000-capacity stadium unfurled flags and displayed supportive messages for the visiting workforce.
The poignant environment set the scene for Palestine’s first ever match within the third spherical of qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
It was an evening to recollect on the pitch too as coach Makram Daboub’s aspect walked away with a deserved and invaluable level after a 0-0 draw towards the giants of Asian soccer, due to Rami Hamadeh’s imperious goalkeeping and South Korea’s errant ending.
Whereas the pre-match favorite Taegeuk Warriors have been denied a house win, Palestine have been additionally left to rue Jo Hyeon-woo’s wonderful save in stoppage time to disclaim Wessam Abou Ali a historic winner.
The regrets, if any, have been washed away by the jubilant scenes at full-time.
Large smiles and heat embraces capped off a historic evening for the gamers and backroom employees, who’ve taken on the mantle of representing Palestine on the largest phases as struggle rages on again residence in Gaza.
The Lions of Canaan stepped on the sector with a agency perception of their potential to understand the dream of reaching soccer’s world showpiece.
“I’m all the time dreaming,” Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid instructed Al Jazeera within the lead-up to the qualifiers.
“They [the Israeli forces] attempt to kill our goals, however we won’t allow them to stand in our approach. We will by no means cease dreaming.”
“It’s one of many easiest and most elementary human rights on earth. All of us have the precise to dream. I do know it’s exhausting to succeed in the World Cup [finals], however every thing is feasible in soccer.
“Being on this place [in the qualifiers] is already a dream, and going to the subsequent step is one other.”
Flying the flag for Palestine
Because the workforce tackles its challenges on the street to 2026, the Palestinians in Gaza proceed to be targets of the Israeli forces, who’ve killed greater than 40,000 individuals and wounded over 94,000, in accordance with the Well being Ministry in Gaza. In Israel, 1,139 individuals have been killed within the October 7 Hamas-led assaults, which began the present struggle.
The almost yearlong struggle has additionally left its affect on soccer, the most well-liked sport in Palestine, and the Palestinian soccer workforce.
As of August, a minimum of 410 athletes, sports activities officers or coaches had been killed within the struggle, in accordance with the Palestine Soccer Affiliation. Of those, 297 have been footballers, together with 84 kids who harboured goals of enjoying for Palestine.
After the struggle started, Palestine Soccer Affiliation (PFA) Vice President Susan Shalabi started recording the deaths of these related to the sport in Gaza. It was her try and humanise the numbers and inform their tales.
Nonetheless, she needed to cease as she struggled to maintain up with the mounting numbers and the emotional toll of mourning the loss.
The trauma of struggle and the lack of family and friends has impacted the gamers as properly.
“No human, whether or not they’re Palestinian or not, can see what’s taking place and never be affected by it,” Palestine worldwide Rashid stated.
He then reveals his coping mechanism: “Two days earlier than the match, I strive my finest not to take a look at the information as a result of it actually impacts us.”
Rashid stated that whereas different gamers could cope with their feelings in another way, there isn’t a denying that it’s “fairly exhausting” for everyone to hold on enjoying.
He explains that “flying the flag for Palestine” means greater than any end result.
“There’s extra to it than simply soccer,” the Ramallah-born participant stated.
The 29-year-old stated the workforce performs for each Palestinian at residence, each Palestinian who’s abroad and within the refugee camps all around the world.
“We by no means play for us. Once we play for the nationwide workforce, we symbolize the entire Palestinian group all around the world.”
Residence away from residence
After the attract Seoul in Palestine’s first match of the qualifiers, the workforce travelled to Kuala Lumpur to “host” Jordan within the Malaysian capital.
For the reason that October 7 assaults in southern Israel and the following struggle, Palestine haven’t been in a position to play any worldwide video games at residence.
In November, they have been as a result of host Australia on the Faisal Al-Husseini Worldwide Stadium in ar-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, however safety issues dictated in any other case. It could have been their first match on residence soil since a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in October 2019.
Within the earlier spherical of World Cup qualifiers, Palestine’s residence video games have been performed in Kuwait and Qatar whereas Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Algeria supplied to host them as properly.
Malaysia, a staunch ally of Palestine, supplied the identical, and to chop down on journey from Seoul, Kuala Lumpur was chosen the host for the mouthwatering all-Arab tie.
Whereas Palestine can count on sturdy help from locals and the Palestinian group in Malaysia, there could be no substitute for taking part in at residence.
It stays to be seen if Palestine can host Kuwait at residence for his or her subsequent residence sport on October 15.
Whereas FIFA has granted conditional approval for the PFA to host video games on the Faisal Al-Husseini Worldwide Stadium, the logistics aren’t easy. And till the PFA is ready to flip the hope right into a actuality, Palestine are compelled to seek out impartial venues for his or her residence video games.
They take energy from understanding that a number of nations have opened their arms to host Palestine.
“It means lots to us,” PFA’s Shalabi defined. “We really feel that we aren’t alone, and that’s essential for a people who find themselves besieged, being tormented and killed.”
For Palestine to fulfil their dream of constructing it to the North American World Cup in 2026, they should obtain certainly one of two eventualities: be among the many high two groups of their group – which apart from South Korea and Jordan additionally options Iraq, Oman and Kuwait – or end the present spherical in third or fourth place and progress to the fourth spherical, through which six groups will battle for the ultimate two computerized berths.
FIFA’s official males’s rankings place Palestine (96) properly behind South Korea (22), Iraq (55) and Jordan (68), making it seem troublesome for them to complete forward of these three international locations. Nonetheless, ending third or fourth and giving themselves one other shot at qualification could be very a lot on the playing cards.
Hope of the Palestinian individuals
There’s little doubt that the workforce represents hope to the Palestinian individuals. The story of PFA Deputy Normal Secretary Sami Abu Al Hussein signifies how.
Al Hussein determined to separate members of his household to keep away from shedding each his kids to an Israeli assault. In the event that they have been in separate places, he figured, one would survive if the opposite didn’t.
Regardless of the struggle and the division of his household, Al Hussein phoned his colleague Shalabi to precise his pleasure in regards to the qualifiers and relay the feelings of the individuals in search of a quick respite from the struggle.
“It signifies the hope the workforce represents for Palestine,” stated Shalabi, who can be a member of the Asian Soccer Confederation’s government committee.
“We’re so pleased with them as a result of in what they’re doing now, they’re offering a voice for the entire of Palestine, particularly those who’re dwelling beneath this genocide in Gaza,” she stated.
“If the one factor that they might accomplish is to make a toddler in Gaza smile, they might have performed sufficient.”
