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What: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
When: October 10th, 2024
Where: Jida’ Al-Nakhla Stadium, Basra, Iraq
Kickoff:9 PM Jerusalem Time
TV/Streaming: Subscribe to Football Palestine on Substack to receive a streaming link to your inbox one hour before kickoff.
07.09.1965: Iraq 1:1 Palestine (1965 Pan Arab Games)*
01.09.2002: Iraq 2:0 Palestine (2002 WAFF Championship)
31.03.2004: Palestine 1:1 Iraq (2006 World Cup qualifier)
16.11.2004: Iraq 4:1 Palestine (2006 World Cup qualifier)
01.12.2005: Iraq 4:0 Palestine (2005 West Asian Games)
17.08.2006: Palestine 0:3 Iraq (2007 Asian Cup qualifier)
06.09.2006: Palestine 2:2 Iraq (2007 Asian Cup qualifier)
18.06.2007: Palestine 0:1 Iraq (2007 WAFF Championship)
10.07.2009: Iraq 3:0 Palestine (Friendly)
13.07.2009: Iraq 4:0 Palestine (Friendly)
29.09.2010: Iraq 3:0 Palestine (2010 WAFF Championship)
20.01.2015: Iraq 2:0 Palestine (2015 Asian Cup)
08.05.2018: Iraq 0:0 Palestine (Friendly)
04.08.2018: Palestine 0:3 Iraq (Friendly)
28.12.2018: Iraq 1:0 Palestine (Friendly)
02.08.2019: Iraq 1:2 Palestine (2019 WAFF Championship)
Palestine’s record over 17 games (0-4-13)
Palestine searching for first win over Iraq
Much like on match day two, Palestine enters this encounter looking to record a first ever win over Iraq. Palestine has beaten every team in the West Asian Football Federation bar three teams- Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq.
In spite of the statistical dominance of the Lions of Mesopotamia over Al-Fida’i there is a sense that the gap is closing. That was definitely the case when the teams last met five years ago. Seven players were a part of that squad that lost 2-1 in Karbala- Yaser Hamed Mayor, Musa Farawi, Mohammed Darweesh, Mohammed Rashid, Oday Dabbagh, and Musa Abu Warda all played a part; Toufic Ali was on the bench.
Iraq have undergone a similar transformation with only six players still with the side Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, talisman Aymen Hussein, Amjed Atwan, Saad Natiq, Osama Rashid, and Safa Hadi are with the side now in Basra.
Palestine will need to channel the spirit of their opening 0-0 draw against South Korea to escape Basra with points to their name. This is not the first time the team has played in the southernmost city of Iraq. Palestine was the third team to play here following the lifting of the ban in 2018.
Palestine were also the first team to play in Iraq after the US Invasion in 2003. Al-Fida’i played a doubleheader in July 2009 in Erbil and Baghdad.
This encounter will mark the fifth time Palestine have played Iraq on Iraqi soil and their eighth game in the country overall. No team has played in Iraq more times in the 21st century than Palestine.
While there is not much glory for Palestine associated with their recent encounters with Iraq. The first time the two teams met- in 1965- is one of the seminal moments in Palestinian football history as Hassanin Mubarak outlines below:
https://hassaninmubarak.substack.com/p/palestine-and-the-1965-pan-arab-games
Injuries a factor for both sides
World Cup qualification in Asia is a marathon that starts less than a year after the culmination of the World Cup finals. Surviving elimination in Round 2 is a testament to a team’s collective strength and there are many teams here that suffered their share of scares before clinching safe passage (China, DPR Korea and Kuwait come to mind).
Injuries and suspension are part of the experience and both Palestine and Iraq will be left to contend with their fair share.
For Palestine, two starters from the 0-0 draw against South Korea will not play against Iraq- midfielder Ataa Jaber and goalkeeper Rami Hamadi. A third, Tamer Seyam is with the squad in Basra but might be limited to a role off the bench.
Amr Kaddoura who was expected to spell Rami Hamadi in goal pulled his groin in his last game for Landskrona meaning that Baraa Kharoub will make his second start in as many games for the national team.
Mohammed Saleh has also withdrawn from the squad.
Things are no better for the Lions of Mesopotamia who already had to contend with the absence of the suspended Rebin Sulaka. Frans Putros (Port FC/THA is still struggling with injury while back up left back Hasan Raed has also pulled out of the squad.
Injuries have also prevented the call-up of Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht/NED), Osama Rashid, Danilo Al-Saed (Herenveen/NED), and Montader Majed (Hammarby/SWE). Things are also bleak in attack with Ipswich’s Ali Al-Hammadi ruled out and Aymen Hussein not fully fit since suffering internal bleeding in the match against Oman.
The latter was prevented from joining the Iraq squad by Al-Khor but has since convinced the Qatari club to release him.
Shades of South Korea
Regardless of the result, Palestine will know that their two toughest games will be done and dusted after Round 3. In analyzing the draw a loss was budgeted for this game as well as the opener against South Korea in Seoul. The success of the team in the first game gives hope to their ability to get something in hostile territory. The strategy seems clear- play a 4-4-2, sit in a low block, and use transitional play to create mismatches.
The major concern for Palestine is Baraa Kharoub’s inexperience but with Palestine expected to sit in a low block he most likely will have less action to contend with. If Palestine’s defence succeed in keeping the action in front of them then the threat of Iraq is greatly reduced. We have already seen the Lions of Mesopotamia struggle to break teams down in this cycle. In Round 2, late goals were needed to secure all three points against Vietnam away and Philippines at home. With Aymen Hussein not fully fit and Ali Al-Hamadi ruled out the job of preventing Iraq from scoring becomes considerably easier for Al-Fida’i
The absence of a slew of creative players and attackers will only boost Palestine’s chances. Also in Palestine’s favour are the absences of Sulaka and Putros which means either Manaf Yousef or Zaid Thahseen will suit up next to Saad Natiq.
On paper this is a favourable match up for Palestine’s forwards- Wessam Abou Ali and Oday Dabbagh who will be relied on to create danger in defensive transitions.
The one question is whether or not Jonathan Cantillana will be fielded from the start. His defensive work rate and cleverness in possession played a key role in the draw against South Korea but he struggled against Jordan and was subbed off at halftime. The 32 year old is one of the most enigmatic players to represent Palestine. Only two players have more goal involvements (14) than the Santiago born midfielder- Oday Dabbagh (21) and Tamer Seyam (28). In spite of the talent, Cantillana has made some questionable career decisions taking two year-long hiatuses over the past four years and recently signing for a club in the Maldives.
His unique qualities in and out of possession have seen him return to the national team fold and with Tamer Seyam out he could very well start in his place over Zaid Qunbar and Moustafa Zeidan.
Predicted Palestine Starting XI (4-4-2): Baraa Kharoub, Musab Al-Battat, Amid Mahajna, Michel Termanini, Camilo Saldaña; Mahmoud Abu Warda, Mohammed Rashid, Odai Kharoub, Zaid Qunbar; Oday Dabbagh, Wessam Abou Ali
Predicted Iraq Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jalal Hassan, Hussein Ali, Saad Natiq, Zaid Tahseen, Merchas Doski; Amir Al-Ammari, Ahmed Yahya; Yousef Amyn, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ali Jasim; Mohannad Ali
