Mohammed Rashid, previously a forklift driver in a Chicago warehouse, now finds himself on a distinct battlefield alongside his Palestinian soccer teammates, the place success affords a fleeting escape from the continuing battle in Gaza.
Against the backdrop of the Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza, coming into its eighth month, the Palestinian squad’s outstanding journey has led them to the third spherical of World Cup qualifying in Asia for the primary time, inspiring hope amid adversity.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Rashid stated in Perth on Monday, on the eve of his crew’s final second-round recreation in opposition to Australia. “We are right here for one trigger and one aim.
“Whoever is on the team has to perform. There is no other way to it.”
The Palestinian crew, ranked 93rd on the earth, has by no means come near reaching the World Cup through the Asian Football Confederation’s qualifying route.
With the 2026 World Cup increasing to 48 groups and Asia’s automated qualification allocation doubling to eight, there’s a greater probability to make historical past.
The Palestinians play Australia at HBF Park on Tuesday to finish the Asian second spherical. Both groups are safely by means of to September’s subsequent stage.
“Of course, it’s (World Cup) a big dream,” Rashid stated. “Everything is possible. There’s a lot of hard work that needs to be done before we get there.”
Team officers discourage politically charged questions at news conferences.
But the gamers are keen to publicly have interaction in conversations concerning the devastation in Gaza.
More than 36,700 Palestinians have been killed, based on the Gaza Health Ministry.
The newest battle was triggered following Hamas’ Oct. 7 incursion on southern Israel that killed round 1,200 folks, taking round 250 folks hostage.
Playing “gives the chance to raise the name of Palestine to the whole world and the World Cup is the biggest platform for this,” stated Rashid, a defensive midfielder. “What’s happening right now is affecting all of us. You can’t help but be affected by it.”
Rashid was on a school soccer scholarship in Illinois from 2013-17 earlier than signing with the Palestinian Premier League one 12 months later.
While most United Nations members don’t acknowledge Palestine as a rustic, together with the U.S. and Australia, the Palestine Football Association turned a full member of FIFA in 1998.
The crew affectionately often called Al Fida’i (The Warriors) had solely reasonable success on the continental stage till not too long ago.
With a disciplined model of play, mirroring the resolve of its gamers, the Palestinian crew has conceded just one aim in 5 matches on this qualifying cycle.
It’s been a outstanding effort given the crew hasn’t performed on dwelling soil since 2019, having been compelled to host matches in Kuwait and Qatar.
Players have needed to flee for security and search abroad leagues.
Rashid, who performs membership soccer for Bali United in Indonesia,” stated for his crew the toughest a part of competing in worldwide competitors was not having the ability to play at dwelling.
“The last time we played Saudi Arabia at home, it was a full house. People were climbing trees to watch the game,” he stated. “We’ve had 28 games away, which is rough. But we’re always playing for our people.”
The crew’s mere existence is seen by some as a political assertion. The Palestinian soccer affiliation president, Jibril Rajoub, was denied an entry visa for Australia. Rajoub can also be a politician and heads the Palestinian Olympic Committee.
The visa problem surfaced on the weekend when the crew arrived in Perth. By Monday, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was questioned about it in Canberra, the capital.
“These decisions are made at arm’s length by the bodies, by the immigration department,” Albanese stated.
Rashid and his teammates are hoping to place that setback apart and proceed to supply inspiration for Palestinians.
“When it comes to (football), you try to get your head out of it,” he stated. The soccer crew’s worldwide matches “is the one factor they (Palestinians) are watching. The solely factor giving them hope.
“For us, this is a big motivation.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com