Victory eluded them but that didn’t matter to Palestine as their goalless draw with Lebanon in Group I of the joint qualification Round 2 match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Doha on Thursday saw them create history.
The point at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was enough for Palestine to seal their passage to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time as well as book their spot in the AFC Asian Cup for the fourth consecutive edition.
Palestine were quicker to settle with Ataa Jaber firing a shot from close range that had to be cleared with his feet by Lebanon goalkeeper Mostafar Matar. Then Wessam Abouli saw his header go wide as Palestine continued to knock on Lebanon’s door in search of the opening goal.
Lebanon did produce a chance of their own midway through the first half when Hassan Maatouk was presented with a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box but Rami Hamada was in the right place to deny the Lebanese captain.
In the fourth minute of first half added time, Palestine should have gone ahead when an unmarked Abouli powered a header from 12 yards out, only to see the ball clip the top of the crossbar. Palestine had their first sight on goal in the second half when substitute Zeid Qunbar twisted and turned before unleashing a shot that hit a defender before Oday Dabbagh blasted over from the ensuing corner kick.
Although the match was played at a frantic pace, neither side was able to fashion clear cut opportunities as both defences stood firm. In the 81st minute, one final chance fell the way of Palestine midfielder Oday Kharoub but he flashed his shot just wide of the post but the stalemate at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was celebrated as much as win would have been.

South Korea rout Singapore 7-0
PSG’s Lee Kang-in and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min both scored twice as South Korea trounced Singapore 7-0 in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. South Korea secured the top spot in Asia Group C and passage to the final qualifying stage in latest interim coach Kim Do-hoon’s first match in charge.
Jurgen Klinsmann left in February after failing to win the Asian Cup and Under-23 coach Hwang Sun-hong oversaw a draw and a victory against Thailand in March. Joo Min-kyu, Bae Jun-ho and Hwang Hee-chan were also on the scoresheet. Next up for Son’s side on June 11 is a home game in Seoul against China, who need a point to clinch the second qualifying place after Branko Ivankovic’s side drew 1-1 at home to Thailand in Shenyang.
Indonesia would have guaranteed their progress from Group F with a win against already qualified Iraq. But they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in Jakarta, finishing the game with 10 men after Jordi Amat was red carded as Iraq made it five wins out of five.
Vietnam lie one point behind Indonesia in the fight for the second qualifying spot after a thrilling 3-2 win over the Philippines. Kevin Ingreso thought he had rescued a draw for the Philippines when he made it 2-2 in the 89th minute in Hanoi.
But in the fifth minute of added time Pham Tuan Hai bagged the winner to keep his side’s hopes alive of making the final round of qualifying. Vietnam travel to Iraq while Indonesia host the Philippines in their final group games on Tuesday.
Bayern Munich-bound teenager Nestory Irankunda made his debut for Australia in Group I as the Socceroos also made it five wins from five matches with a 2-0 win against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Irankunda was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania after his parents escaped fighting in their native Burundi and will move to Germany next season.
The 18-year-old winger had a hand in the first goal in the 29th minute when his short pass found Ajdin Hrustic to lash home from long range. Kusini Yengi headed the second after half-time.
Already qualified Japan cruised past Myanmar 5-0 in Yangon. Keito Nakamura and Ritsu Doan scored in the first half for Hajime Moriyasu’s side, before Koki Ogawa grabbed a double and Nakamura added another after the break.