Amidst War And Pain, Palestine And Sudan Inch Closer To Their First World Cup Appearances
Despite being war-torn regions, both Sudan and Palestine’s national football teams are defying the odds, keeping their World Cup dreams alive. As they push forward in their quest to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals, they are on the brink of making history.
Palestine made its dramatic late comeback by beating Iraq 2-1 in Jordan. The victory was secured on Tuesday at Amman International Stadium in the Jordanian capital. The win lifted Palestine off the bottom of Group B and into fifth spot with six points, placing them one point and one place above Kuwait. Indeed, it is to be highlighted that this was the first time Palestine had reached the knockout stages of an Asian Cup.
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If the team is placed in third or fourth position, it would advance to a playoff round that could see them win a place at the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico. As Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues to claim many lives, over 350 football players have been killed so far. However, the national team continues to make history, despite Israel’s attacks and restrictions on Palestinian sports.
“It’s a story to tell our kids one day… I’m really proud we have achieved things in the worst condition I have ever seen my country in… We want the world to see that we have the right to play, and nothing can kill our dreams and our passion,” Palestine national team captain Mohammed Rashid said after winning the match.
Similarly, Sudan’s national team currently stands third in their qualifying group after conceding only two goals over six qualifying games. The civil war in Sudan has killed over 150,000 people and displaced over 12 million. Moreover, the war has disrupted games from being played on home ground, and the national team has now resorted to playing in other countries referred to as neutral grounds.
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“The war drives the team on… it is a big push for us, knowing that we are pretty much the only reason for people to be happy in Sudan. When we play, that is all that happens in the country. The war stops for 90 minutes as everyone watches, there is no fighting,” says Abdelrahman Kuku, Sudan player.
