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A subtle but crucial change has allowed Palestine to retain their temporary home ground of Kuwait City for this month’s 2026 World Cup qualification double header against Bangladesh.
It is something of an unwritten rule but the powers of world football tend not to favor two World Cup qualifiers being played on the same day in the same city. Had the schedule remained the same- Palestine would have played Bangladesh on the same day Kuwait would have hosted Qatar.
That scenario would have most likely meant Palestine making use of a smaller venue than the Jaber Al-Ahmed Stadium.
Instead, Palestine will first play in Kuwait on March 21st before traveling to Dhaka to face the same opponent five days later. That change will save Palestine 4,239 km and a five hour flight (should the PFA be intelligent and generous enough to book a non-stop flight) a huge advantage in a continent where travel can be arduous.
Kickoff for Palestine’s game against Kuwait is set for 20:30 Jerusalem time. As it stands, Palestine will play Bangladesh in the afternoon of the 26th of March which coincides with the 13th day of Ramadan. FIFA’s website has the match slated for a 15:30 kickoff time- a strange for a pair of teams with players who will be fasting.
Palestine and Bangladesh have faced off in six official encounters with Palestine prevailing in five. The only match Palestine did not win was back in 2006 when the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the last group stage game of the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup.
