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Palestine has never qualified for the World Cup but has reached three Asian Cup tournaments
Following a request from the Palestinian Football Association, Algeria announced that it would host Palestine’s upcoming international football matches.
Palestine is scheduled to start the 2026 World Cup next month with games against Lebanon and Australia in Asian qualifying.
While the game against Lebanon is an away game despite being played in the United Arab Emirates, the “home game” against Australia is expected to be played in North Africa.
Following the militant group Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people, retaliatory aerial attacks took place in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, causing almost 3,000 deaths, as the ground offensive continued.
“The President of the Algerian Football Association, Mr. Walid Sadi, announces that our country will host the official Palestine-Australia match scheduled for November,” the Algerian association wrote on its website.
The statement added that the decision to host “all official and unofficial matches as part of the Palestinian football team’s preparation for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers” was made “in agreement with the leading authorities of Algeria.”
The Algerian association added that it would cover all costs associated with staying in Palestine, such as transport and accommodation.
The first rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualification in Asia will also serve as qualification for the continent’s premier football competition, the Asian Cup.
Palestine, whose home stadium is in the West Bank, has sought outside help as the regional conflict worsens. The football association said the Asian Football Confederation had asked it to play the Australia game at a neutral venue.
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Algeria hosted the African Nations Championship this year, a competition for African footballers from their own countries
Algeria’s agreement to host Palestinian internationals requires the approval of world football governing body Fifa.
Last week, Palestine’s preparations for next month’s qualifiers were hit after the team withdrew from the Merdeka Cup tournament in Malaysia two days in advance due to the escalating conflict with Israel.
Israel’s 2024 European Championship qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo were also postponed by European governing body Uefa due to the fighting.
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