Palestinian Soccer Team Navigates War to Prepare for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Training camp held in Jordan amid challenges of war, with key players unable to leave Gaza; team aims to advance in qualifying despite psychological strain and interrupted preparations.

• The Palestinian soccer team, led by head coach Makram Daboub, has been holding a training camp in Jordan in preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
• Three key players, Ibrahim Abuimeir, Khaled Al-Nabris, and Ahmed Al-Kayed, were unable to leave Gaza to join the training camp due to the war. However, Egypt-based players from Gaza, Mohamed Saleh and Mahmoud Wadi, are expected to join the team in Jordan.
• The psychological strain on the team is substantial, with many players having family in danger zones, but there is a strong desire to continue with the games as a way to represent the Palestinian people.
• The Palestine Football Association has been a full member of FIFA since 1998, and the team has seen some regional success, including appearances at the Asian Cup in 2015 and 2019, and qualification for the upcoming 2023 tournament in Qatar.
• There is increased hope for participation in the 2026 World Cup with Asia's automatic qualification allocation increasing from four places in 2022 to eight in 2026. To advance in the qualifiers, Palestine needs to finish in the top two of a group containing Australia, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.

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