What: 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group Match
When: Sunday, January 14th, 2024
Where: Education City Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar
Kickoff: 19:30 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:
24.12.2018// Palestine 1:1 Iran (Friendly)
05.11.2011 // Iran 7:0 Palestine (Friendly)
07.08.2008 // Iran 3:0 Palestine (2008 WAFF Championship)
20.06.2007// Palestine 0:2 Iran (2007 WAFF Championship)
04.04.2002 // Palestine 2:2 Iran (2002 West Asian Games**)
26.05.2000 // Palestine 1:1 Iran (2000 WAFF Championship)
**Denotes unofficial match
Finally, the Wait Comes to an End
Contitnetal tournaments tend to come every four years. In some cases, you might get them every three years should the timing be switched around. Africa is lucky to get an AFCON tournament every two years. The wait between the 2019 edition and the 2023 (held in 2024) edition marks the longest gap between Asian Cups since the tournament’s inception in 1956.
This Asian Cup was supposed to be held in China last summer but a decision to move the tournament was made in 2022 while strict COVID-19 regulations were in place. The AFC wanted the Chinese government to issue a quarantine waiver to the officials so they could organize a draw ceremony on site. China refused and it set in motion a series of not so necessary events.
An announcement was made in 2022 that the tournament would be moved. Due to a “lack of time” the standalone qualifying process to decide the remaining 11 nations that would participate in the tournament was reduced. Typically, six groups of four teams would give each team three home and three away matches over the course of three FIFA international breaks to punch their ticket.
The AFC decided to do away with that and teams were left with a 10-day period in a centralized location in June 2022 with just three matches to decide their fate. Two months later, the tournament was moved to Qatar- and subsequently delayed to January 2024.
First Competitive Match Up
Iran has a ton of experience playing against its Arab neighbors across the Gulf. In the wider region it has also locked horns with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan in a competitive setting on more than one occasion. Even Yemen, who have only faced Iran a paltry three occasions have played against Iran in an official match (losing 5-0 to them at the last Asian Cup).
Palestine and Iran? This is uncharted territory for both teams who can only pour over matches held nearly a generation ago and two meaningless friendlies held in 2011 and 2018 to establish a narrative.
The reality is there is not much of a narrative- many will try and reference the geopolitical situation but even those ties are tenuous at best!
Last summer the two teams met at the U23 WAFF Championship where a last gasp equalizer for Iran rescued their campaign. Palestine had taken the lead through Zaid Qunbar who has since made the jump to the senior team. Iran has take a veteran squad and only a pair of defenders- Saman Fallah and Aria Yousefi- were a part of the U23 set up last year. Neither is expected to play a role for Team Melli.
Another U23 match up provides us with no real clues but some fun anecdotes. In 2016 U23 AFC Asian Cup qualification- Palestine played Iran and a a valiant team went down swinging 3-0 to the hosts. Rami Hamadi was in goal that day- Musab Al-Battat started at right back and the tournament also featured the likes of Odai Kharoub and Mahmoud Abu Warda. All four could start against Iran on Sunday.
Team Melli opened the scoring that day through Sardar Azmoun and there were also starts for Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Hossein Kanaanizadegan, and Mehdi Torabi. On the bench are several names included in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup squad- Alireza Jahanbaksh, Milad Mohammadi, Majid Hosseini.
Five of those names (Azmoun, Cheshmi, Torabi, Mohammadi, and Kanaanizadegan) were involved when the senior sides played out a 1-1 draw ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Palestine had five players of their current squad participate in that match as well. Rami Hamadi, Musab Al-Battat, Oday Dabbagh, Mohammed Rashid, and Mohammed Saleh.
While both sides will be better acquainted with other teams in the region neither will be treating the other as a complete unknown.
Injury Concerns
Iran might play their opening match of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup without Alireza Beiranvand. The goalkeeper suffered a knee injury in a friendly against Burkina Faso and was held out of training and Hossein Hosseini was between the sticks for the 5-0 win over Indonesia.
Sardar Azmoun who featured in Roma’s 1-0 loss to Lazio in Coppa Italia on Wednesday is a late arrival to camp.
There are similar injury concerns for Palestine. Ataa Jaber is unlikely to start as he works his way back from a heel injury. Mahmoud Wadi and Islam Batran were not in line to start but will unlikely feature as they too picked up knocks in training.
In a boost for Palestine, defender Amid Mahajna (who could also deputize in midfield) will join the national team. PFA President Jibril Rajoub used his connections with local politicians across the Green Line in order to pressure Hapoel Umm El-Fahm President Mohammed Abu Alam to reverse his decision. Abu Alam had feared the negative reaction from the Israeli public should it come to light that one of his players was playing for Palestine.
A Tight Encounter Expected
Make no mistake, Iran are favorites to win this match and the group. Projections have them facing Korea Republic in the quarterfinal with that match the largest obstacle between Team Melli and the final.
Palestine’s expectations are far more modest. They want to win a game and get out of the group (both which would be firsts at an Asian Cup). The team knows how to make life difficult for opponents and deprived of the service of Ataa Jaber will take a more defensive approach to this game.
Could we see a three-man back-line?
Perhaps. Although preparations for the AFC Asian Cup have not given us any clue to that being the case. The key for Palestine will be cutting off the supply line to Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun. That means Saman Ghoddos and his performance could determine the result of the encounter.
If Palestine are to get anything out of this game they will need to do a better job of taking their chances. Iran are a great team but not without their own issues. They are vulnerable if caught out of possession and have very little speed on the wings. If Rami Hamadi and the defence turn in the type of performances they have been known to deliver then perhaps Palestine can accomplish their mission and escape the most difficult Group C match with a point.
