Celebrations erupted in Doha on Sunday as Palestine and Syria booked their spots in the Arab Cup quarter-finals with a tense but symbolic 0-0 draw.
For both teams, simply reaching the knockouts carried
weight far beyond football. In Gaza, a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire has only just paused months of war. For Syrians, the match landed on the eve of the anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting — a reminder of the long, brutal conflict that reshaped their nation.
Both sides came into the final Group A clash knowing a draw would put Palestine top and Syria second.
So when the clock ticked down, more than 40,000 fans inside Education City Stadium turned the moment into a shared celebration — dancing, chanting, and waving flags before the final whistle even blew.
When it did, players embraced, swapped shirts, and posed for photos as coaches hugged on the touchline.
⚡️🇵🇸🇸🇾JUST IN: Palestine and Syria celebrate together as players trade jerseys after they both qualify to the knockout stages of the FIFA Arab Cup. pic.twitter.com/NzVo5PaxRT
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) December 7, 2025
Syria & Palestine celebrate together as both teams advance to FIFA Arab Cup quarter finals. 🥹🇸🇾🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/UQQQ64Ewir
— Muslim (@Muslim) December 8, 2025
“We’re very happy to top a group with Qatar and Tunisia,” said Palestine striker Oday Dabbagh. “We played to win, especially after hearing Tunisia were ahead, but qualifying was the most important thing.”
Palestine coach Ehab Abu Jazar dedicated the result to his mother, who fled her home in Gaza and now lives in a tent. “She told me to play carefully,” he said — a line heavy with meaning far beyond tactics.
Meanwhile, in Damascus, fans gathered in cafes to watch.
Syrian striker Mahmoud al-Mawas called the qualification “huge for Syrians,” especially as it coincided with Liberation Day celebrations. “Now all our focus is on the quarter-final.”
(with AFP inputs)
