Palestine Stuns Iraq With Last-Minute Comeback in World Cup

Palestine pulled off a dramatic comeback to secure a memorable victory over Iraq in their 2026 World Cup qualifier, keeping their slim hopes of qualification alive.

Iraq looked in control early on, taking the lead in the 34th minute when Aymen Hussein headed in a cross from Ibrahim Bayesh at Amman International Stadium in Jordan on Tuesday night.

For the next hour, Palestine held their ground and stayed in the contest. Then, in the final minutes of an intense match, they turned the game on its head.

With just two minutes of regular time remaining, striker Wessam Abou Ali equalized with a powerful header, breathing new life into Palestine’s campaign. Seven minutes into stoppage time, Ameed Mahajneh sealed the comeback, heading in a corner from Adam Kaied to complete a stunning turnaround.

It was a particularly emotional night for Abou Ali, who had waited years to represent Palestine. Born in Denmark to Palestinian parents, he previously played for Denmark at the youth level and had to undergo a lengthy process to change his national association with FIFA.

In a podcast interview last year, Abou Ali expressed his deep connection to Palestine. “Having this passport is a gift,” he said. “I love Denmark—it has given so much to me and my family—but Palestine is in my heart. My family there means so much to me, and it would be amazing to bring them joy and success.”

Tuesday’s win was Palestine’s first at this advanced stage of the Asian qualifiers, injecting new excitement into Group B. Palestine now sits in fifth place with six points, just ahead of Kuwait.

South Korea leads the group with 16 points, followed by Jordan and Iraq. The top two teams will qualify directly for the World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will enter another round of qualifying. Palestine still has a shot.

The victory was a source of immense pride for Palestinian players and fans. Earlier this month, Sweden-born midfielder Moustafa Zeidan spoke about what it means to wear the Palestine jersey.

"It's an amazing feeling to be part of writing history for the country," Zeidan told The National. "We know how much this means—not just to us as players, but to the people of Palestine. This is one way we can make them proud.”

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