Receive news, analysis, and other content straight to your inbox by subscribing to Football Palestine (free or paid), here.
What: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier
When: Tuesday, March 26th, 2024
Where: Bashundhara Kings Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Kickoff: 20:30 Jerusalem Time
TV: Our Substack subscribers will receive an email with a link to a live stream on the day of the game. Subscribe here.
Previous Encounters:
21.03.2024 // Palestine 5:0 Bangladesh (2026 World Cup qualifier)
05.09.2021 // Palestine 2:0 Bangladesh (Friendly)
15.01.2020 // Bangladesh 0:2 Palestine (Friendly)
10.10.2018 // Bangladesh 0:2 Palestine (Friendly)
02.03.2013 // Palestine 1:0 Bangladesh (2014 Challenge Cup qualifier)
21.03.2011 // Palestine 2:0 Bangladesh (2012 Challenge Cup qualifier)
04.05.2006 // Bangladesh 1:1 Palestine (2006 Challenge Cup)
Weather and other elements to play a factor
After Palestine’s 5-0 win over Bangladesh on Thursday you would be forgiven for thinking that Tuesday’s game is just a formality. Palestine will be heavily favoured, yes, but will be without the neutral ground, a perfect pitch, ideal weather conditions, and crucially evening kickoff time.
The decision to schedule this game for 3:30 PM in the afternoon in the middle of Ramadan is extremely controversial for a number of reasons. First and foremost the vast majority of both sets of players will be fasting. Second, the weather is forecasted to be 33 celsius and feel like 36 celsius. Humidity will rise from 27% to 50% by the time the match is over and there is a good chance of thunderstorms.
A similar scenario played out in Islamabad last week when Jordan and Pakistan met in a World Cup qualifier. That match had to be played in the afternoon as the lighting in the Muhammad Ali Jinnah stadium did not meet FIFA standards.
Bangladeshi sources have told Football Palestine that the lighting at the Bashundhara Kings Stadium is up to standard but a decision was made to play during the day to accommodate fans who spend evenings in Ramadan engaged in prayer.
This will very much be a match in which Palestine’s primary concerns will be overcoming the mental hurdle of playing in heat without taking on water and a potential torrential downpour turning the pitch into a mud bath.
Rotations and a change of style?
Assuming both sets of players fast it is hard to see the frantic pace of Thursday’s game being replicated tomorrow. For one, Bangladesh will find it harder to press Palestine high up the pitch- something they did effectively for most of the first half. That press forced Palestine to play backwards several times and attempt balls over the top to unlock the rearguard.
This might play into Palestine’s hands who could slow the pace down and maintain possession, eliminating Bangladesh’s attacking threat.
Makram Daboub will also have the ability to use players who were rested in the first game. Yaser Hamed Mayor could be in line for a start in central defence, Zaid Qunbar could replace his brother in attack, and Mohammed Rashid will be fresh having played just 45 minutes on Thursday.
Score Early
The moment Palestine opened the scoring against Bangladesh on Thursday night the tie was effectively over. Before Oday Dabbagh’s opening goal, the team lived dangerously and were lucky Bangladesh’s players could not convert entries into the box into shots on goal.
In the second half, Bangladesh’s attacking threat disappeared and spaces opened up and the goals started to flow. That said, Palestine must make sure that the first goal comes early in Dhaka which would allow the team to slow the pace down and manage the game.
Bangladesh should not be underestimated as their home ground has helped them navigate tricky opponents before. Javier Cabrera’s men drew Lebanon in November and navigated a path to Round 2 of World Cup qualifying by beating Maldives 2-1 the month before. In the last cycle, Bangladesh gave Asian Champions Qatar a scare before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat. Even after Qatar took the lead in the 28th minute, the game was not really settled until a late injury time goal made it 2-0.
Make no mistake, other than the Australia games this will be Palestine’s toughest (given the factors mentioned) match in World Cup qualification.
Jordan’s potential banana peel against Pakistan became a relatively easy affair last week due to a goal within the first three minutes of kick off and a second goal in the first 15 minutes. Replicating the effort of their neighbours will help secure a crucial three points and put Palestine tantalisingly close to a spot in the Third Round of World Cup qualifying.
