In a remarkable demonstration of resilience and fighting spirit, Palestine held Asian soccer giants South Korea to a hard-fought 1-1 draw on Tuesday in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The result left Tottenham Hotspur superstar Son Heung-Min in awe of the Palestinians’ unwavering determination in the face of immense hardship.
Palestine Takes Shock Lead, Son Equalizes
Playing on neutral ground in Jordan due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, 98th-ranked Palestine stunned the 28th-ranked Koreans by taking a shock lead in the 12th minute. Son managed to pull the Taegeuk Warriors level shortly after, but despite their best efforts, South Korea could not find a way past Palestine’s resolute defense for the remainder of the match.
Son: “Something We Can Learn From”
After the final whistle, a magnanimous Son was quick to praise the Palestinians’ indomitable spirit in the face of adversity. “I want to give a round of applause to the Palestine team,” the Spurs talisman said. “Seeing them work so hard, even in difficult conditions, is something I think we can learn from.”
“I think they were well prepared and executed their plans really well.”
Son Heung-Min on Palestine’s performance
Hamadeh’s Heroics Frustrate Koreans Again
The draw marked the second time in this qualifying campaign that Palestine has frustrated their more illustrious opponents, having secured a gritty 0-0 draw in Seoul last September. In both matches, Palestinian goalkeeper Rami Hamadeh produced a series of inspired saves to keep the Koreans at bay, despite facing a total of 32 shots across the two games.
Hamadeh’s heroics are made all the more impressive by the fact that he has been without a club for over a year due to the ongoing conflict in his homeland. The Palestine league has been suspended since 2019, leaving Hamadeh and several of his teammates struggling to stay match-fit.
“We haven’t done any [training] camps. The [overseas-based] players haven’t been with us a lot of the time,” Hamadeh explained after the first meeting with South Korea. “I’ve been without a team for a year because of the war…I train alone. I train with my friends. [But] I have a responsibility to be here.”
Rami Hamadeh on the challenges facing the Palestine team
Palestine’s World Cup Dream Still Alive
The hard-earned point keeps alive Palestine’s unlikely dream of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup. While still a longshot, Tuesday’s draw leaves them mathematically in contention to progress to the next round of Asian qualifying with four matches remaining.
For Son and South Korea, meanwhile, the result is a wake-up call as they seek to secure a place at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Taegeuk Warriors currently sit second in their group behind leader Malaysia, with work still to do to ensure they advance to the final round of qualifying.
Spirit of Palestine an Inspiration
Regardless of whether Palestine’s World Cup fairytale becomes a reality, there is no doubt that the spirit and perseverance they have shown in the face of unimaginable odds is an inspiration to underdogs everywhere. In a sport often dominated by big names and deep pockets, Palestine’s brave battle is a timely reminder of the unifying power of the beautiful game.
As for Son and South Korea, they will look to regroup quickly as they continue their quest for a tenth consecutive appearance on soccer’s biggest stage. The Tottenham star and his teammates are next in action against Oman and Jordan in March, while Palestine face challenging clashes against Jordan and Iraq.
But for now, the day belongs to Palestine. Against all the odds, they have once again shown that in soccer, as in life, the size of the fight in the dog is often more important than the size of the dog in the fight. It is a lesson that Son Heung-Min and the rest of the soccer world would do well to heed.
