In a thrilling match between Palestine and Kuwait at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, a late goal by substitute Zeid Qunbar helped Palestine secure a 2-2 draw against Kuwait in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifier. The match saw Palestine’s Camilo Saldana receive a second yellow card in the 55th minute, leaving them with 10 men on the field. Despite this setback, Qunbar’s goal canceled out Kuwait’s lead and earned Palestine a valuable point in Group B.
Currently, Kuwait sits in fifth place in the group with three points, tied with third-placed Oman but trailing on goal difference. Meanwhile, Palestine is at the bottom of the group with two points. South Korea leads the group with 10 points, followed by Jordan and Iraq with 7 points each. Palestine coach Makram Daboub expressed his belief that his team deserved more than just a draw and acknowledged their strong performance during the match.
Looking ahead, Daboub emphasized the importance of focusing on the upcoming fixture against Oman and remaining competitive for the fourth-place spot in the group. Despite the setback of the draw, Daboub highlighted that there are still opportunities to correct mistakes and improve the team’s form and physical fitness. Overall, the coach remains optimistic about Palestine’s chances in the remaining matches of the qualifier.
The match between Palestine and Kuwait was tightly contested, with both teams pushing hard to secure an early lead. Kuwait scored first with a penalty kick by Yousef Al Sulaiman in the 31st minute, but Palestine equalized before halftime with a penalty kick by Wessam Abou Ali. With Saldana’s red card putting Palestine at a disadvantage, Kuwait capitalized on their advantage to take the lead in the 80th minute. However, Qunbar’s late equalizer in stoppage time salvaged a point for Palestine and denied Kuwait a victory.
In the aftermath of the match, both teams will now shift their focus to their upcoming fixtures. Palestine will face Oman on November 14, while Kuwait will host table-toppers South Korea on the same day. The draw between Palestine and Kuwait serves as a reminder of the competitiveness of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifier and the unpredictable nature of football matches. Both teams will be looking to build on their performances and secure valuable points in their quest for a spot in the next stage of the qualifier.
