• Palestinian football fans carry the Saudi flag ahead of today's match between their national football team and that of Saudi Arabia for a WC2020 qualifying match, in the Israeli occupied West Bank town of al-Ram. On the left is a section of the Israel's controversial seperation barrier. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Palestinian football fans carry the Saudi flag ahead of today's match between their national football team and that of Saudi Arabia for a WC2020 qualifying match, in the Israeli occupied West Bank town of al-Ram. On the left is a section of the Israel's controversial seperation barrier. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Palestinian security forces stand guard as local football fans carry the Saudi flag ahead of today's match between their national football team and that of Saudi Arabia for a WC2020 qualifying match, in the Israeli occupied West Bank town of al-Ram. On the left is a section of the Israel's controversial seperation barrier. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Palestinian security forces stand guard as local football fans carry the Saudi flag ahead of today's match between their national football team and that of Saudi Arabia for a WC2020 qualifying match, in the Israeli occupied West Bank town of al-Ram. On the left is a section of the Israel's controversial seperation barrier. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Fans watch the match World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, West Bank. Reuters
    Fans watch the match World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, West Bank. Reuters
  • The Saudi and Palestinian national football teams listen to their national anthems during a World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    The Saudi and Palestinian national football teams listen to their national anthems during a World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Football fans stand beneath a giant banner depicting the Saudi national flag and a smaller one reading in Arabic "Long live the Fedayeen (Palestinian national football team nickname)" and showing Palestine's players and coach Noureddine Ould Ali (C), as they attend the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Football fans stand beneath a giant banner depicting the Saudi national flag and a smaller one reading in Arabic "Long live the Fedayeen (Palestinian national football team nickname)" and showing Palestine's players and coach Noureddine Ould Ali (C), as they attend the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Palestine's supperters wave their national flags ahead of the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Palestine's supperters wave their national flags ahead of the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Palestinian security forces watch the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. The game, taking place in the Palestinian West Bank town of al-Ram, would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Palestinian security forces watch the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. The game, taking place in the Palestinian West Bank town of al-Ram, would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • Pictures, from left, of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, adorn the stadium as fans cheer for their teams. The match ended with a 0-0 draw. AP Photo
    Pictures, from left, of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, adorn the stadium as fans cheer for their teams. The match ended with a 0-0 draw. AP Photo
  • Palestinian security forces guard a Palestinian Football Association bus as the teams of Palestine and Saudi Arabia arrive ahead of their World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
    Palestinian security forces guard a Palestinian Football Association bus as the teams of Palestine and Saudi Arabia arrive ahead of their World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP
  • The World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia is shown on a television screens outside a shop the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. AFP
    The World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia is shown on a television screens outside a shop the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. AFP
  • A barber cuts the hair of a Palestinian youth watching the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match. AFP
    A barber cuts the hair of a Palestinian youth watching the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match. AFP
  • Football fans stand at half-time beneath a display showing the score. AFP
    Football fans stand at half-time beneath a display showing the score. AFP
  • Palestinian children watch the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. AFP
    Palestinian children watch the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the northern Israeli occupied West Bank city of Nablus. AFP
  • Palestinian football fans queue up outside the stadium. AFP
    Palestinian football fans queue up outside the stadium. AFP

Football

Thousand turn out to watch Saudi Arabia play World Cup qualifier against Palestine in occupied West Bank - in pictures

Palestine dominated proceedings against a team ranked 31 places above them in the Fifa rankings but could not make the breakthrough against five-time World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

October 16, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia played out a 0-0 draw against Palestine in a landmark game in the occupied West Bank.

The two sides met in a World Cup 2022 qualifier at the Palestinian national stadium in Al Ram, a part of the West Bank close to Jerusalem but cut off from the city by an Israeli separation barrier.

The Palestinian Football Association said it expected around 8,000 fans to attend the match against Saudi Arabia, who had previously refused to enter the territory as part of its boycott of Israel.

Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the Palestinian territories - occupied by the Jewish state since 1967 - as it requires obtaining entry permits from Israel.

Palestine dominated proceedings against a team ranked 31 places above them in the Fifa rankings but could not make the breakthrough against five-time World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia.

Uzbekistan's 3-1 victory over Singapore moved them to the top of Group D, one point ahead of second-placed Saudi Arabia with Palestine and Singapore on four points.

Next up for Palestine is an away trip to face Yemen, while the Saudis travel to Tashkent for the clash with Uzbekistan.

Above is a picture gallery of the match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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