Palestine, a nation ranked 96th in the world, pulled off a remarkable feat on Thursday, holding South Korea to a 0-0 draw in an away match as they strive to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Despite being significant underdogs against the 23rd ranked South Koreans, Palestine displayed tremendous resilience and tactical prowess in an entertaining match played in Seoul.
This was Palestine’s debut in the third stage of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Compounding their challenges, they are forced to play their home matches abroad, typically in the Middle East, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian league has also been suspended, leaving many of their players without a club.
Despite these obstacles, Palestine came out firing in the opening stages of the match, even coming close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute before a goal was correctly ruled offside. The home side, under their fourth coach of the year, Hong Myung-bo, appeared shaky defensively and struggled to integrate their star player and captain, Son Heung-min, into the game.
Palestine’s defensive resolve and tactical discipline kept South Korea at bay for much of the first half, with the home side’s best chance falling to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, who saw his shot saved by Palestinian goalkeeper Rami Hamadeh.
The Palestinians, appearing to tire in the second half, were forced to rely on rare but dangerous counter-attacks. Despite a few close calls, South Korea continued to struggle to break through Palestine’s resolute defense.
In the final minutes, both teams had opportunities to snatch a victory. South Korea’s talisman Son Heung-min hit the outside of the post, while Palestine’s Oday Dabbagh came agonizingly close to scoring a late winner.
Ultimately, both teams had to settle for a point, with Palestine earning a valuable draw against a formidable opponent. The result demonstrates the remarkable progress the Palestinian national team has made under their Tunisian coach Makram Daboub.
Earlier this year, Palestine achieved a historic victory at the Asian Cup, defeating Hong Kong 3-0, securing their first win in the competition and advancing to the knockout rounds for the first time ever.
This draw against South Korea will be a major boost for Palestine’s World Cup hopes. They now face Jordan in their next qualifier on Tuesday, a match they will play in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as their designated home ground. Palestine’s journey to the World Cup is one of resilience, determination, and ambition, and their performance against South Korea showcased their growing potential on the international stage.
