WATCH | Palestine Named Squad for World Cup 2026 Amid Gaza Losses - video Dailymotion

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The Palestinian Football Association’s squad announcement for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Jordan and Iraq was not a typical reveal. It’s a poignant reflection of life in Gaza, interwoven with scenes of devastation.      Palestine has been recognized by FIFA since 1998, competing in three AFC Asian Cup tournaments but never reaching the World Cup. For a nation acknowledged as sovereign by over 75% of UN member states—yet held as a non-member observer at the UN due to U.S. opposition—football is a powerful symbol of identity and perseverance.      The Palestine Football Association has reported that as many as 408 athletes, including 270 soccer players, mostly children, as well as players and officials, have been killed in the conflict.      Watch the full video to know more.  #Palestine #Gaza #WorldCup2026 #Football #VoicesFromGaza #PalestinianAthletes #ChildrenOfWar

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00:00What does a squad announcement mean when your home is under siege?

00:04Set amidst the rubble of Gaza, young fans search for their heroes in the most unlikely places

00:10of their fractured city. A faded image of defender Musab Batat is found among the coastal rocks.

00:16Forward Uday Dabag's portrait is pulled from the debris of a collapsed building

00:21and centre-back Mila Tarmanini's picture is at a makeshift water distribution centre.

00:26With joy and determination, these children gather the images of the 26-man squad,

00:32pinning them to a rusty goal frame where they play, a symbol of hope.

00:37The Palestinian Football Association's squad announcement for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

00:43was not a typical reveal. It is a poignant reflection of life in Gaza,

00:48interwoven with the scenes of devastation amidst war.

00:51Yet, the children's smiles as they collect these portraits shine through, capturing a community's

00:58resilience through football. Palestine has been recognised by FIFA since 1998,

01:05competing in three Asian Cup tournaments but never reaching the World Cup.

01:10For a nation acknowledged as a sovereign by over 75% of UN states, yet, held as a non-member

01:17observer at the United Nations, football is a powerful symbol of identity and perseverance.

01:24The war in Gaza has left unimaginable destruction. The UN reports over 48,000

01:29Palestinian lives lost since October 7, 2023, following Hamas's attack.

01:36The Palestine Football Association has reported that as many as 408 athletes, including 270 soccer players,

01:44mostly children, as well as players and officials have been killed since the war began.

01:50Musab Batat, Odedabaag, Milad Darmanini, these names, salvaged from across war-torn Gaza,

01:57are more than a squad. A nation's unyielding resolve, chasing a World Cup dream amid profound hardship.

02:05The squad announcement is unique. It's a testament to a community that finds strength in football,

02:10where every image pulled from the ruins tells a story of survival and aspiration.

02:15Juxtaposed with the children's hopeful search are haunting scenes of war's toll,

02:20yet their spirits remain unshakable.

WATCH | Palestine Named Squad for World Cup 2026 Amid Gaza Losses

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