Palestinians — along with much of the Arab world — celebrated the country’s national team this week after qualifying for the knockout stage at the AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar. 

The historic win on Jan. 23, a 3-0 victory against Hong Kong to close out the group stage, allowed Palestine to reach the round of 16 for the first time in the tournament’s 68-year history.  

“This is our third consecutive participation and this tournament stands out as our best so far,” Musab Al-Battat, the team’s star midfielder, told reporters. “With clear goals and ambition, we promised our fans qualification to the round of 16. Despite being in a challenging group, we showed determination to reach our goal.”

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The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has led to thousands of casualties in Gaza was not lost on Al-Battat. 

“Our objective was to win, and we displayed a consistent performance throughout the group stage. This achievement will motivate and bring smiles, both inside and outside of Palestine,” he said. 

Palestine shocked fans with its brilliant performance despite losing its opening match 4-1 to Iran. The team followed that up with a 1-1 draw against the UAE and a 3-0 win against Hong Kong, helping Palestine finish third in Group C. The team qualified for the knockout stage — where it will play host nation Qatar on Monday — as one of the four best third-place teams. 

“It's not the end for us,” Al-Battat vowed. “Each match has unique challenges, and we will approach them with the same determination, hoping luck will be on our side. On the field, emotions were set aside as we believed in the group and team spirit.” 

Before last Tuesday’s epic victory, Palestine had never won an AFC Asian Cup game. In both of its previous two appearances, it had been eliminated in the group stage without a win.  

Palestine manager Makram Daboub, who hails from Tunisia, said at the end of the Hong Kong game that they “came into the match knowing we needed to win.” 

“Our players were determined to achieve the objective and thankfully we qualified,” he added. “Every head coach aspires to go far in this tournament but we must be realistic about our chances. The team showed plenty of improvement in their performance and I have full confidence in my players to deliver in the next round.” 

‘Free Palestine’ 

Before Palestine’s defeat to Iran on Jan. 14, a moment of silence was observed, which included shouts of “free Palestine" at Education City Stadium near Doha. 

Qatar, who hosted the World Cup in 2022, is host of the AFC Asian, which will conclude on Feb. 10 with the final.

In the Iran game, the stadium announcer asked the crowd of nearly 28,000 for silence “in memory of the lives tragically lost as a result of the ongoing situation in Palestine.” That was followed by a chorus of pro-Palestine chants from the fans. 

Despite the defeat, fans — some draped in keffiyeh scarves and the Palestinian flag — waved their arms and cheered throughout much of the game. 

The tournament comes at a difficult time. The terrorist group Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel on Oct. 7, when hundreds of gunmen infiltrated various communities near the country’s border with the Gaza Strip. About 1,200 people were killed, while the Israeli military said more than 200 soldiers and civilians, including women and children, were taken as hostages.

In response to the attacks, an estimated 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed following air and artillery strikes carried out by Israeli Defense Forces. 

Youssef Nasser Issa, a biomedical engineer from Bethlehem in the West Bank, told AFP that attending the game against Iran was “the least we can do for our country.”

Lana Anshasi, who is also Palestinian, said she was in shock from the daily scenes of carnage coming out of Gaza every day. 

“I cannot handle what I’m watching. … You can see it's terrifying for the people in Gaza,” she said.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Qatar, said she hoped “the world could wake up” to what’s happening in the Middle East. 

While there was plenty of national pride on display at this game, and the other two featuring Palestine, some fans chanted “Death to Israel” to show their dissatisfaction.

Israel also fields a soccer team but does not participate in Asian or Middle Eastern tournaments. Instead, Israel, despite its geographic location, is a member of UEFA. soccer’s European governing body.

Importance of soccer 

Like in many parts of the world, soccer holds significant importance in Palestine, both as a sport and as a symbol of national identity. Despite the challenges and conflicts in the region, the game has managed to thrive and often has played a key role in fostering a sense of unity.  

Participation in international football competitions, such as the AFC Asian Cup and World Cup qualifying, has allowed Palestine to gain wider international recognition and visibility. It has also provided an opportunity for Palestinian players to compete on a large stage. 

It should not be lost on people that, in the midst of challenging circumstances, sports such as soccer can serve as a form of escapism and distraction for Palestinians. It offers a break from the hardships of daily life. In the case of this team, it has provided Palestinians with a source of joy and entertainment. 

Al-Battat said the team used the tournament as a way to showcase “ourselves as capable players, proving that we deserve to be here.” 

He added, “The fans remain our number one motivation and we are immensely proud of the way they cheer for the Palestine national team.”

Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.