Al Wakrah, Qatar – Al Janoub Stadium witnessed a memorable night that belonged to Palestine, regardless of the final score. Despite coming into the match with a loss in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and facing war in their home country, the Palestinian team received overwhelming support from the crowd. Chants of “Free, free Palestine” filled the air as the players took the field, and the Palestinian players were celebrated with waves and applause.
The passionate support continued throughout the match, with every Palestinian touch on the ball cheered on and a loud boo for the UAE’s possession. Although the UAE took the lead in the 23rd minute, the crowd remained fervent in their encouragement for Palestine. When a penalty was awarded to Palestine and a red card shown to the UAE, the stadium erupted in applause.
The atmosphere was electric as the crowd sang and danced, expressing their unwavering support for Palestine. When Palestine scored an own goal in the 48th minute to equalize, the stadium erupted once again. Despite their relentless attacks, the 10-man UAE team managed to hold Palestine to a 1-1 draw.
The Palestinian players showed their appreciation for the support by applauding the crowd at the end of the match. While hopes for advancing in the tournament remained uncertain, the passionate support of the Palestinian fans made the night truly special.