Football and World Cup qualification may be the furthest thing from the minds of people in Palestine right now, but the head coach of the country’s national football team hopes his players can give their war-ravaged nation something to cheer about with their feats on the field.

Palestine will face South Korea to begin the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in Seoul on Thursday. Palestine have never gone this deep into the regional qualification, and head coach Makram Daboub said Wednesday taking a step further will do wonders for the Palestinian people.

Makram Daboub, head coach of the Palestinian men’s national football team, speaks at a press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Sept. 4, 2024, the eve of the team’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea. (Yonhap)

“We have already accomplished a major goal by reaching the third round, and if we can get past this stage, it will give the Palestinian people so much hope,” Daboub, a Tunisia native, said through an interpreter
at Seoul World Cup Stadium. “I hope people will all have better lives. We are harboring a big dream of qualifying for the World Cup, and we will do our best to realize that dream.”

For 96th-ranked Palestine, beating South Korea, world No. 23, will be a tall order. Daboub admitted as much, calling South Korea one of the top teams in Asia.

“We know South Korea are a complete team with a lot of good players,” Daboub said. He then added with a grin, “As for what I think is their weaknesses, I won’t share them with you here because it’s our secret.”

The coach singled out Son Heung-min, captain for both South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur, as the most dangerous opposing player.

“We are a cohesive team that can play well as a unit,” Daboub added. “We will rely on our fighting spirit, passion and organization to stop talented players such as Son Heung-min.”

Accompanying the coach to the presser, forward Wessam Abou Ali also predicted a difficult match against South Korea, but he vowed his team won’t go down withou
t a fight.

Wessam Abou Ali, forward for the Palestinian men’s national football team, speaks at a press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Sept. 4, 2024, the eve of the team’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea. (Yonhap)

“We have respect for South Korea as a top team. But for us, it’s important to just play like we want to and put in a big effort,” said Abou Ali, a Denmark native of Palestinian descent. “We will do anything for us to get a good result for our country and for our national team. Football is 90 minutes and you never know what can happen. We’ll try to have good tactics for the game and try to get all three points.”

The 25-year-old, who previously played for Denmark’s under-17, under-18 and under-19 national teams, echoed Daboub’s sentiment that football can help lift the spirits of the Palestinian people.

“We’ve put ourselves in a situation where we’re in qualifications for the World Cup. If we can reach that goal, it’d be amazing,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult, fo
r sure. I think the most important thing for us players is to create happiness for fellow Palestinian people who suffer more than some of us.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency