Goals and Highlights: Palestine 2-1 Iraq in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

GOL DA PALESTINA!

Ahmid Mahajna marcou aos 52' e virou o jogo para os palestinos!

Mais um tropeço do Iraque!#AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/J6eo0uZ8zZ — Conte Verde (@conteverde_) March 25, 2025

Goal, goal, goal, goal, goal for Palestine! The winning goal! The same formula was repeated in the final play of added time for the home side. After a well-taken corner, Amin Mahajna leaped high inside the box, powerfully headed the ball home for the winning goal.

They never stop fighting. Both teams look to break through the opponent's net. It's a back-and-forth affair on the pitch. Both create opportunities for defenses, each one standing strong, repelling every attack.

What a great match! Ninety minutes have already ended, but the referee decides to add six more minutes to the game. Both teams are in high spirits and will go for the winning goal.     

Goal, goal, goal for Palestine! The home side equalized after a hard-fought match. Following a free kick, Wessam Abou Ali leaped up from inside the box, outpaced all the players, and with a lethal header, he smashed the ball into the back of the net to level the score.

Two more changes were made by Palestine in this final stretch. Mahmoud Abu Warda and Assad Ham Hamlawi entered the match, along with Odal Aly Abdulraim Kharouby and Oday Dabbagh, who never stopped looking for a goal.

Two changes for Iraq. The visitors want the match to end, but there's still time. Ali Yousif and Alai Ghasem come on to replace Aymen Hussein and Rebin Sulaka. They'll be looking for more goals.

Hussein keeps looking for the second, the visiting forward keeps putting pressure on the home side's back line, trying to increase the score, but he lacks precision in his finishing.    

Visiting substitutions, Iraq respond to the home side's substitutions. Charbel Shamoon and Lucas Shlimon come on, while Ahmed Al-Ahjjaj and Amir Al-Ammari come off, both players putting in a good performance.

They're not letting them out! The visiting team was charging at full speed, heading for the goal, but they managed to prevent their exit in a superb way and returned to attack the goal guarded by Ahmed.

Palestine is changing hands, going all out in search of the first goal. Hamed Mohamed Mahmoud Hamdan is replaced by Zaid Qunbar, who will look to score up front.                                        

Palestine is currently dominating the match. The home team has 51% possession in these 68 minutes and wants to continue adding minutes and open the scoring. They urgently need a draw.     

What a gem! Palestine was threatening Ahmed Basil's goal, but the alert defense finally rose inside the box and headed home the ball. What an amazing game!                                      

A change for the Iraqi squad, who want more goals for themselves. Youssef Amin is out of the match, replaced by Mohamed Al-Taay, who will look to increase his goal tally for the visitors in this match.

The home team has made a substitution, aiming to tie the score. Tamer Seyam is out, and Adam Kaied is replacing him. They will look to equalize and secure the win.                                             

What a thing! Dabagh was looking to create a dangerous play in the opponent's box, but before entering the box, Attwan brought him down and took a shot at him. The play was called for a loss, but it didn't develop into anything new. What a waste of a play.

Rami Hamada and Ahmed Basil remain very alert to the plays generated by their opponents, several attempts have been made, however, their good handling of the ball manages to prevent it from entering.

The start of the second half was very tight, with both teams trying to create danger, but they ended up committing fouls or sending the ball wide, going back and forth with both teams vying to score.

The second half is underway, and both teams are back with the same eleven players they used at the end of the match. Both teams will be looking to create damage and go for more goals. A great second half is coming, aiming for a good result.

Halftime in Palestine. The score remains narrowly in Iraq's favor. A strong second half is underway. The home team hasn't let up and continues to search for the equalizer.                                        

There are four minutes of added time in this first half; the match has been very lively, but the ball is not going to come in favor of Palestine, who keeps trying. They need to open the score.    

It doesn't reach! Multiple attempts by the home side, Hamdan has tried several shots, but the ball just won't reach the visitors' goal. Many attempts without any clarity in front.    

It was a close call! After a good stretch of driving, it was Abou Ali who dared to fire a powerful shot from outside the box. The ball went in dangerously, but Ahmed Basil, who was very alert, ended up saving the ball.

All of Palestine is pushing deep into their own box, the players trying to prevent Palestine's attacks from becoming goals, back and forth in the building, both teams continue to look to create.

Goal, goal, goal, Iraq! The visitors are on the scene! It's Aymen Hussein who appears, following a fine cross from Ibraheem Bayesh. The player rises inside the box and with a lethal header scores the first goal of the night.

The tables have turned. Palestine is now pressing hard in the opponent's box, waiting for any defensive errors. They are gradually gaining more control of the ball and are looking to create danger up front. They want to win at all costs.

They can't! Iraq can't get out of their penalty area. Despite their success in getting out with the ball, they end up making mistakes that give Palestine opportunities to create chances that could lead to a goal. What a mess.

What a defense! Great tracking from the home defense, Amyn was dangerously approaching down the left flank, but Mus'ab Al Battat managed to make a superb sweep and deflect a ball that was dangerously looking for his goal.

There's a goalkeeper! Al-Ammari arrived, looking dangerous. The player entered the box and shot powerfully to try to score the first goal, but Rami Hamada, as always alert, ended up saving the ball with one hand.

Abou Ali looks for the first of the night. The home player begins to overflow and generate interesting plays in search of goals, however, the ball is kept out by the Iraqi squad.      

Rami Hamada has had his work cut out for him in these first few minutes. The home goalkeeper remains very alert in his own area, keeping away and holding onto every ball that comes in from Iraq as they look to open the scoring.

There's no clarity in the match, despite Iraq dominating this duel. They haven't managed to get a shot on target, the home team can't get possession, and the visitors are passing it around without giving them a chance.

He's creating! It was Al-Hajjaj who made a dangerous run into the opponent's box, where he managed to shoot dangerously at goal, but the ball went wide, causing no damage to the goal.  

Palestine hasn't managed to take control of the ball, it's been a few minutes, but it's the visitors who continue to create danger up front, with Amin and Hussein looking to get into the penalty area to create plays and look for the first.

Iraq dominated possession in the first half, and little by little, the visiting team started creating plays up front and began pushing forward to attack the goal and open the scoring.    

The clock has started! The match between Palestine and Iraq is underway. Both teams will be looking to put on a great showdown in the first half and score three points to close out the FIFA World Cup on a high note.

Your #Iraq lineup to take on Palestine in Amman tonight! 👊 #PLEvIRQ #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/2jYa0cTcsr — Iraq National Team (@IraqNT_EN) March 25, 2025

La composition de la Palestine pour affronter l’Irak : le coach délaisse enfin le 442 pour un 433 avec Dabbagh sur l’aile . La Palestine n’a d’autre choix que de s’imposer aujourd’hui pic.twitter.com/enU4upSRP8 — Joueurs Palestiniens 🇵🇸 (@JoueursPA) March 25, 2025

Both Iraq and Palestine are in attendance at the Palestine Stadium. Both teams are determined to score goals and go for that long-awaited victory, as well as seeking a strong finish to this FIFA World Cup.

Iraq has conceded seven goals in its last five matches, and has also managed to score four. The visitors come into this match looking to score more goals and prevent dangerous opportunities.  

Palestine has conceded eight goals in its last five matches. The home team needs to prevent that number from growing and give their fans something to cheer about at home. They need to keep a clean sheet.

With just under half an hour left until the start of this Asian qualifier, a tough match is coming up, where both teams will give it their all to go for the three-point lead.      

Iraq, on the other hand, has had a better performance, with the visiting team recording two wins, two losses, and a draw. Therefore, in this match, they will look to continue their dominance over Palestine and emerge victorious.

Palestine hasn't had a good showing lately, with little to no success. The home team has lost three times and drawn twice in its last five matches, so it will look to improve its performance.                                                     

In the head-to-head record between these teams, Iraq holds the advantage with four wins and one draw, while Palestine will be looking to win after several unsuccessful matches. They need to win.                                                                      

Hussein has seven goals so far. The Iraqi player will be looking to continue adding goals and go for the win with his team. What a great matchup this stadium promises to be.      

Iraq will have to pay attention to Dabbag. The player has scored three goals in his last matches. The forward will look to add more goals and put in a strong performance in these qualifiers, as they look to continue collecting points.

We're back for a minute-by-minute look at the Palestine-Iraq match. We'll be sharing the most important information, including the confirmed lineups and everything else that happens at this venue, shortly.

Be sure to follow the match on VAVEL. We'll soon be sharing the most important and relevant information about both teams, so you can stay tuned for this live broadcast.         

The Palestine vs. Iraq match will not be available on TV in the United States.
This match can be watched live and via stream online through the FIFA+ app.
You can also follow all the action from this match on VAVEL USA.

It's 2:15 PM (USA) when these teams will face each other. However, here are the times for different countries:
Argentina: 2:15 PM
Bolivia: 1:15 PM
Brazil: 2:15 PM
Chile: 1:15 PM
Colombia: 12:15 PM
Ecuador: 12:15 PM
United States: 2:15 PM PT and 4:15 PM ET
Mexico: 12:15 PM
Paraguay: 1:15 PM
Peru: 12:15 PM
Uruguay: 2:15 PM
Venezuela: 2:15 PM
Japan: 3:15 AM
India: 12:15 AM
Nigeria: 7:15 PM
South Africa: 00:15 hrs
Australia: 04:15 hrs
United Kingdom ET: 19:15 hrs

Jesús Casas declared before facing this team in the qualifiers, where they were also eliminated from direct qualification due to being outscored: "It certainly wasn't the result we expected. Our opponents had three shots and scored two goals. We're ready.

Ihab Abu Jazar spoke ahead of tomorrow's clash: "It would definitely be a fantastic moment if the Palestinian national team could play against Celtic. We would always be ready for a match like this. It would be special for the Palestinian people."
"All Palestinians know the support of the Celtic fans. All Palestinians support Celtic.”
The home team coach will be looking to secure a win and take three points in this crucial qualifying match.

This could be the starting XI with which Iraq will enter the match.
Ahmed Basil; Hussein Ali, Frans Dhia Putros, Rebin Solaka, Merchas Doski; Osama Rashid, Zidane Iqbal, Peter Gwargis, Mohanad Ali, Ali Jasim; Aymen Hussein.

This is how the home team could enter this match.
Rami Hamada; Ahmad Taha, Mohammed Saleh, Michel Termanini, Musab Al-Battat; Tamer Seyam, Hamed Mohamed Mahmoud, Ataa Jaber, Zaid Qunbar; Oday Dabbagh, Wessam Abou Ali.

Iran managed to draw 2-2 with Kuwait in the last round. The Iranian squad earned their point in the final minutes of the match, and the tie came in injury time.      

Palestine failed to score in their last match. The home side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Jordan on Thursday, a highly contested match in which they failed to score.

In this preview, we'll bring you the most relevant news from this match, updates, and everything happening around this venue, the Amman International Stadium, which will host a great match. Ninety minutes of excitement are ahead.