Palestinian players leave the field after an Asian Group B World Cup qualifying soccer match against Oman at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan on June 12, 2025. (Photo | AP)
Amman (Jordan): Palestine's long and determined journey toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in heartbreak last Thursday after a contentious late penalty denied them a historic spot in the tournament. A campaign marked by resilience, defiance, and hope was abruptly cut short at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, leaving players in tears and fans stunned.
The Palestinian team, ranked 101st in the world, had been on a remarkable run in Group B of the Asian qualifiers. To reach the final playoff stage for one of the remaining automatic spots at the World Cup, they needed to win their last three matches. After defeating Iraq in Basra in March and Kuwait in Kuwait City on June 5, they were leading 1–0 against Oman in Jordan with just moments remaining.
But in the 97th minute, Oman was awarded a controversial penalty, which they converted. The 1–1 draw meant Palestine finished fifth in the group, one point behind Oman, missing out on a potential fourth-place playoff position. The final whistle marked the end of their most promising campaign yet.
"It's very hard," said Oday Dabbagh, the team's star striker, speaking to The Associated Press. "It was massive for us to get to the next stage — we prepared well, we had a positive atmosphere, and we had the fans with us. We gave everything, but it was gone in a moment."
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) lodged an official complaint with FIFA regarding the penalty decision. However, it did little to alter the outcome or lift the spirits of the devastated squad.
Coach Ihab Abujazar praised his players for their unwavering determination in the face of unimaginable challenges. “We tried to put smiles on the faces of Palestinians amid their great pain,” he said. “The heroic players are our pride and glory, a symbol of all that is beautiful in the Palestinian nation.”
Due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Palestine could not host any of their home games in Gaza or the West Bank. Instead, the team played in Amman, Jordan — a city with a large Palestinian population. “It is easier to play in your home,” Dabbagh said. “But the circumstances there are so difficult, so we choose to play in Amman as it is close to Palestine, the people are the same, and we have a lot of fans there."
The war, which began in 2023, has decimated the sporting landscape in the Palestinian territories. Domestic football has come to a standstill, hundreds of athletes are among the over 55,000 Palestinians killed, and sports infrastructure has been severely damaged.
“Everything that goes on makes us all sad,” Dabbagh admitted. “As players, we try to focus on football during the games, but we use what is happening as motivation to bring happiness to the people of Palestine.”
Only two players from the current 27-man squad play domestically; the rest are signed with clubs in Europe or the broader Middle East. When the conflict first escalated, many players had difficulty leaving the West Bank and Gaza. Since then, the national team has trained in various host countries including Algeria, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Despite the crushing disappointment, the team is not done yet. Palestine has already qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, where they hope to continue their upward trajectory in Asian football.
“We will keep using football as a message to show the world that there are other things in Palestine,” Dabbagh said. “We will keep going. The dream is not over — it is just delayed.”
With PTI inputs