Palestine advances in historic FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Palestine achieved a historic milestone by advancing to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time. In a hard-fought match against Lebanon in Doha, Palestine secured a goalless draw, earning the crucial point needed to progress. Despite Lebanon's aggressive play resulting in seven yellow cards, Palestine's determination shone through, building on their success from the Asian Cup earlier this year.

Next up for Manager Makram Daboub's team is a challenging encounter against Australia, who clinched a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh with the help of debutant Nestory Irankunda. Meanwhile, South Korea showcased their dominance with a resounding 7-0 win against Singapore, and India's Sunil Chhetri bid farewell in a touching goalless draw against Kuwait, marking his 151st and final appearance for his country.

In the Middle East region, Afghanistan caused a stir by holding reigning Asian champion Qatar to a goalless draw. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia emerged victorious in their matches against Nepal and Pakistan, respectively. South Korea's commanding performance in Asia Group C sets the stage for a crucial showdown against China in the upcoming qualifiers.

Elsewhere, Iraq extended their winning streak with a 2-0 triumph over Indonesia, who finished the game with 10 men. Vietnam's thrilling 3-2 victory over the Philippines keeps them in contention for the second qualifying spot. Japan, already qualified, cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win over Myanmar in their recent match.

The latest round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers showcased thrilling matches and surprising results across Asia and the Middle East. Palestine's historic advancement, Afghanistan's resilient performance, and Japan's dominant display were among the highlights of the fixtures. As the competition intensifies, football fans can look forward to more exciting clashes and memorable moments on the road to the World Cup.