They were already winners before a ball had even been kicked. That does sound strange. Winning is paramount in sport and the pain of losing hurts.

Yet for Palestine, the devastating human losses suffered in recent weeks made fielding a team here at the Asian Cup a victory in itself.

It didn’t matter that they had not won in seven games, their last victory a 2-1 triumph over Bahrain in March. The significance was that this team were able to play at all yesterday while bombs continue to hit loved ones in Gaza since Hamas’s horrific October 7 attack on Israel.

Facing Iran, who are ranked No 21 in the world, the task ahead was always going to be steep. Conceding two goals in the first 12 minutes proved as much. Yet in the stands, the many supporters donning keffiyehs — black and white chequered pieces of cloth — around their necks did not care.

A stall on the stadium concourse gave out green, red, black and white flags for free, and their fans waved and waved them in a show of unity.

Palestine fell to a 4-1 defeat against Iran in their opening game at the African Cup of Nations

Palestine fell to a 4-1 defeat against Iran in their opening game at the African Cup of Nations

There was strong support for Palestine from supporters amid the ongoing war in Gaza

There was strong support for Palestine from supporters amid the ongoing war in Gaza

Roma striker Sardar Azmoun scored the fourth goal as Iran made a bright start to Group C

Roma striker Sardar Azmoun scored the fourth goal as Iran made a bright start to Group C

This was their 90 minutes of escapism. It felt abnormal turning to my left and right to witness flags being raised and claps aplenty for a team conceding goal after goal. But the wider circumstances meant this was never going to be a typical match.

Striker Mahmoud Wadi ambled over to Mail Sport before their training session on Saturday after receiving a phone call from back home. ‘My cousin was killed today,’ he said. ‘Thirty minutes ago I heard this.

‘It is difficult to say how I feel now. Three days ago, I couldn’t contact my family but (today) I saw a video on Instagram of a car going to a hospital. I saw someone in a red jacket — this is my jacket. So I guessed it was him.

‘We tried to contact anyone there, but we could not. After an hour, some of my neighbours there contacted my brother here and told him what happened to my cousin.

‘We need to spread awareness so people know they are still with us. This cup is very important, to hold our flag and symbols.’

Manager Makram Daboub said his squad had ‘psychological issues’ and ‘were suffering’ because of the ongoing war. How they have the mental fortitude to compete in an international competition, who knows.

But when the lives of family and friends are in danger, a football match is a distraction, however brief.

Makram Daboub speaks to his players after defeat at the Education City Stadium

Makram Daboub speaks to his players after defeat at the Education City Stadium

Daboub said his squad had ¿psychological issues¿ and ¿were suffering¿ because of the war

Daboub said his squad had ‘psychological issues’ and ‘were suffering’ because of the war

Supporter Hany Atat, 28, whose grandparents fled Palestine during the 1948 war, said: ‘Sure, we are proud of them (the players). Sadly we’re not here to cheer for football, we are here just to cheer for our national team to show the world that Palestine is there.

‘The feeling of being a Palestinian, no one can change that. Sport is a channel for us to deliver that message of us existing.’

Two of the squad, Mohammed Saleh and Wadi, were born in Gaza. Some of the players have family stuck there. A number have had former club team-mates die since the October 7 attack.

In competing here, they want to send a message of hope to their compatriots at a time of need.

Daboub said: ‘Everyone is focused on the news and what is happening but even with that, inside every one of us, from the technical staff to the players, there is a message that we need to deliver to the whole world.

Daboub said that Paletstine's 'presence and what we will deliver in this tournament should be a message for the whole world that Palestine exists'

Daboub said that Paletstine’s ‘presence and what we will deliver in this tournament should be a message for the whole world that Palestine exists’

Referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim shows Palestine's defender Mohammed Saleh a red card, which was later retracted and replaced with a yellow upon review

Referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim shows Palestine’s defender Mohammed Saleh a red card, which was later retracted and replaced with a yellow upon review

‘We have a big responsibility that we are the ambassadors for Palestinian soccer, and ambassadors for Palestine.

‘Through the matches, our presence and what we will deliver in this tournament should be a message for the whole world that Palestine exists.’

Sport is often glibly described as a uniting force. Brings everyone together, et cetera. Though in this instance, it truly is. Just look at the Palestine squad.

Ataa Jaber captained Israel’s Under 21s. He switched to representing Palestine in June 2023. Amid Mahajna plays for Israeli side Hapoel Umm al-Fahm. He has solely featured in Israeli leagues since the 2016-17 season.

Such a message spills into this tournament itself. Earlier in the day, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Arsenal’s full back whose estimated transfer value outweighs that of Palestine’s entire 26-man squad, watched his Japan team beat Vietnam 4-2.

Mahmoud Abu Warda, who plays for Markaz Balata, a team based in a West Bank refugee camp, was facing Iran hours later at a stadium which hosted Brazil v Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. Wildly different circumstances, intrinsically linked by sport.

Twelve of Palestine's squad plays in the West Bank Premier League, a league that has been suspended since October 7

Twelve of Palestine’s squad plays in the West Bank Premier League, a league that has been suspended since October 7

The attacks on Gaza have made any progression in this competition a near impossible task for Palestine, emotional trauma aside.

Twelve of their squad play in the West Bank Premier League, a division that has been suspended since October 7. Just two qualifiers in November and two friendlies this month have been available to them in that time.

That made for a stark contrast against opposition who were unbeaten in 13 matches. Though tension surrounded them, too, for different reasons — with Iran also riven with divisions and shaped by trauma.

The Iran football team were allegedly threatened with reprisals by government officials over a refusal to sing the national anthem prior to their 2-0 win over Wales in the 2022 World Cup, in solidarity with fans over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

And just last week, footballer Amir Reza Nasr Azadani was reportedly sentenced to 16 years in prison for taking part in anti-regime protests.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

On Sunday, it was goals from Karim Ansarifard and Shojae Khalilzadeh which put Iran in front.

They scored another two, but Palestine’s sole goal on the stroke of half-time raised the loudest cheer of the night.

Tamer Sayem bundled the ball in off a deep free-kick. It was their only goal, yet something supporters could take home.

Palestine have two more group games to come, against the UAE and Hong Kong. But whatever the outcome, in many ways they have already won.

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Post source: Daily mail

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