Palestinian team stand for the national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Iran and Palestine at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

The Palestinian national soccer team has made significant strides towards qualifying for the World Cup, having advanced to the third round of the Asian qualifiers as one of the top 18 teams on the continent.

Their next challenge is formidable, as they will face South Korea in front of a crowd of 66,000 in Seoul on Thursday. South Korea has a strong World Cup history, having qualified for the last ten tournaments and reaching the semifinals in 2002.

In this Asian qualifying round, the top two teams from each of the three groups will secure six of the eight spots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation for the 2026 World Cup. Teams finishing third and fourth will enter a fourth round to compete for two additional spots.

“Our objective is to finish among the top four teams in our group, and I believe we have the capability to achieve that,” stated Makram Daboub, the head coach of the Palestinian team, in an interview with The Associated Press. “Reaching this crucial stage is a source of great pride for me and the players, and it reflects our collective effort.”

Competing against South Korea and their English Premier League star Son Heung-min presents a unique challenge for a team currently ranked No. 96 in the world.

“Son is an exceptional player, but our focus is on the Korean national team as a whole, which includes many talented players. We are concentrating on competing against the best teams in Asia,” Daboub remarked.

Group B also features Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait.

In preparation for their opening match, the Palestinian team trained in Malaysia and will return to Kuala Lumpur for their upcoming game against Jordan.

Daboub’s team is accustomed to playing away from home.

This marks the first time the Palestinian team has advanced to the second round of continental qualifying, having played their “home” matches in Kuwait and Qatar due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Israel initiated a significant military operation in Gaza following a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of around 250 individuals.

The conflict has now extended into its 11th month, resulting in over 40,000 fatalities, as reported by health officials in Gaza.

“The circumstances are becoming increasingly challenging in every regard,” Daboub stated. “What concerns me the most is not only the psychological impact of the situation but also the physical well-being of the players, as many of them are currently without clubs.”

The upcoming match in Seoul marks Hong Myung-bo's first game in his second tenure as head coach of the South Korean national team.

“I believe this match holds significance for the national team rather than for me personally,” Hong, who stepped down after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, remarked. “This is about qualifying for the World Cup.”

Group C, regarded as the most competitive qualifying group in Asia, includes Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

Japan, which will host China in their opening match, boasts a roster featuring 20 players based in Europe and is the highest-ranked team in Asia at No. 18.

Both Australia and Saudi Arabia are striving for their seventh appearance in the World Cup.

“We must concentrate on our responsibilities and ensure we accomplish our goals, as this is crucial. The second phase has concluded, and we are now entering the third phase,” stated Socceroos coach Graham Arnold prior to Australia’s first match against Bahrain. “Everyone starts with zero points, zero goals for and against, and everything begins anew.”

In Group A, Iran is anticipated to qualify for their fourth consecutive World Cup, while Qatar, the host of the 2022 tournament, aims to progress through the qualifying rounds for the first time. Qatar will face the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan will host North Korea.