The Story Of The Palestine National Football Team’s Attempt To Qualify For The World Cup
For a semblance of hope amid the ongoing violence, the Palestinian national team attempted to take steps towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the first time ever. Thousands of Palestinians turned up at the 60,000 seat venue in a game against Australia, the first game by the Palestinian national team since October 7.
The long-anticipated match saw Australia winning 1-0 against Palestine but despite the loss, the level of support and solidarity shown that day was unmatched. Massive Palestinian flags wafted across the stands as fans cheered for the team. Even before the game started, the Palestinian national anthem blasted through the speakers to an emotional team standing in the middle of the pitch.
Known by many names whether it is the Lions of Canaan, the Knights or the Fedayeen, this is a team that looking back a few years didn’t exist. During the catastrophic Nakba of 1948, many Palestinians, including talented footballers, became displaced. Years later, several teams were formed from Palestinians dispersed across Palestinian territories under the banner of ‘Palestine’ which eventually led to the formation of the Palestine National Football team.
On Tuesday, even if the team did not end up qualifying for the World Cup, they still made a major win in terms of placing a celebratory spotlight on Palestine amidst the ongoing violence.
