The Seoul World Cup Stadium may 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 most important 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 equipment, giant 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 facet walked away with a deserved and invaluable level after a 0-0 draw towards the giants of Asian soccer, because of 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 superb 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.
Vast smiles and heat embraces capped off a historic evening for the gamers and backroom workers, who’ve taken on the mantle of representing Palestine on the most important phases as battle rages on again residence in Gaza.
The Lions of Canaan stepped on the sector with a agency perception of their capability to grasp the dream of reaching soccer’s world showpiece.
“I’m at all times dreaming,” Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid advised Al Jazeera within the lead-up to the qualifiers.
“They [the Israeli forces] attempt to kill our desires, however we won’t allow them to stand in our approach. We are able to by no means cease dreaming.”
“It’s one of many easiest and most elementary human rights on earth. All of us have the best to dream. I do know it’s laborious to succeed in the World Cup [finals], however all the things 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 response to 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 battle.
The almost yearlong battle has additionally left its influence on soccer, the preferred 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 battle, in response to the Palestine Soccer Affiliation. Of those, 297 have been footballers, together with 84 kids who harboured desires of enjoying for Palestine.
After the battle 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.
Nevertheless, 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 battle and the lack of family and friends has impacted the gamers as nicely.
“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 mentioned.
He then reveals his coping mechanism: “Two days earlier than the match, I strive my greatest not to have a look at the information as a result of it actually impacts us.”
Rashid mentioned that whereas different gamers might cope with their feelings in another way, there isn’t a denying that it’s “fairly laborious” 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 mentioned.
The 29-year-old mentioned the workforce performs for each Palestinian at residence, each Palestinian who’s abroad and within the refugee camps everywhere in the world.
“We by no means play for us. After we play for the nationwide workforce, we signify the entire Palestinian group everywhere in the world.”
House 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 battle, Palestine haven’t been in a position to play any worldwide video games at residence.
In November, they have been attributable to host Australia on the Faisal Al-Husseini Worldwide Stadium in ar-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, however safety issues dictated in any other case. It will 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 nicely.
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 anticipate sturdy help from locals and the Palestinian group in Malaysia, there may 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 pressured to search out impartial venues for his or her residence video games.
They take energy from figuring out that a number of nations have opened their arms to host Palestine.
“It means loads to us,” PFA’s Shalabi defined. “We really feel that we’re not alone, and that’s crucial 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 considered one of two eventualities: be among the many prime 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, by which six groups will battle for the ultimate two computerized berths.
FIFA’s official males’s rankings place Palestine (96) nicely behind South Korea (22), Iraq (55) and Jordan (68), making it seem tough for them to complete forward of these three nations. Nevertheless, ending third or fourth and giving themselves one other shot at qualification may be very a lot on the playing cards.
Hope of the Palestinian individuals
There may be 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 areas, he figured, one would survive if the opposite didn’t.
Regardless of the battle 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 looking for a short respite from the battle.
“It signifies the hope the workforce represents for Palestine,” mentioned Shalabi, who can be a member of the Asian Soccer Confederation’s govt 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 mentioned.
“If the one factor that they might accomplish is to make a toddler in Gaza smile, they might have performed sufficient.”