In a decision prioritizing player safety, the upcoming Socceroos vs. Palestine World Cup qualifier has been relocated to Kuwait. The match, initially scheduled for Ramallah in the West Bank, will now occur in Kuwait on November 21.
The Football Australia (FA) chief executive, James Johnson, stated that the decision was made following consultations with the players, the Asian Football Confederation, and the FA. Johnson emphasized that the FA is putting all necessary security measures in place to ensure the players’ safety and comfort during the match.
The Palestinian national team had previously made its way out of Gaza via Jordan last week, according to Al Jazeera.
Professional Footballers Australia co-chief executive Beau Busch expressed the Australian players’ concern for those affected by the conflict in the region. Busch stated that the players are working with human rights and aid groups to understand how to support best those impacted by the situation.
The Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has also been involved in discussions with the FA regarding the match. A DFAT spokesperson confirmed that the department is providing advice about the Palestine match, as well as a fixture scheduled to be played in Lebanon in March.
Australian government travel advice for Palestine and Lebanon is currently at level four: do not travel. Lebanon has also moved its home match against Palestine to the UAE next week, according to Fifa.
Busch reiterated that player safety remains the top priority, but the players also want to help in any way they can. He stated that they will continue to prioritize safety and explore ways the players can comfortably support those affected by the conflict.
Australia’s match against Palestine will follow their clash against Bangladesh in Melbourne on November 16. The Socceroos squad for the fixtures will be announced on Thursday.
These matches mark the commencement of the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, and Bangladesh will play each other twice in a pool between November and June. The top two teams from the collection will progress to the third round.
Despite ongoing challenges in terms of preparation and travel, Palestine is currently ranked 96th in the world, while Australia holds the 27th position.