In an historic first, Saudi Arabia travelled
to the West Bank to play Palestine in a
qualifier for the 2022 World Cup. The
match resonated heavily in the political
arena as Saudi Arabia, as part of the Arab
boycott, had previously refused to enter
Palestinian occupied territory.
Four years ago, Palestine and Saudi
Arabia were paired in the 2018 World
Cup qualifiers but the Saudis pressed
Palestine’s president Mahmoud Abbas for
an exemption from playing in the West
Bank. Although it was mutually agreed
to shift the match to neutral ground in
Jordan, the Saudis, in reality, had backed
out of the West Bank game in protest at
Israel’s control over Palestinian borders.
Today, a different political backdrop
allowed Saudi Arabia to travel to the West
Bank without upsetting either Palestine“We focus on our
country to play on our
home turf, and sports
is one of the symbols
of our identity”
Palestinian Football Association
president Jibril RajoubWorship...Saudi
players and staff
pray at the Dome
of the Rock in the
Old City of Jerusalem
before their game
against Palestine