
The former Palestine captain, Abd al -Latif al -Badari, nominated his country to win against Jordan and Iraq, at Amman International Stadium, within the seventh and eighth stages of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Al -Badari, who had previously professionalized in the Jordanian and Iraqi stadiums from the gate of the Al -Wehdat and Zakho teams, respectively, added in an interview with the “New Arab” that the Palestine team is required to focus first on confrontation against Jordan away from the second confrontation against Iraq, in order to achieve the desired results.
*How do you see the chances of the Palestine team in reaching the 2026 World Cup after six rounds?
First, I wish success to the new technical staff, and I believe that we have important matches now, and we have an opportunity that we must fight until the last breath, as we can reach fourth place against the teams of Oman and Kuwait, and if we win the two games against Jordan and Iraq, we can qualify for the qualifying attaché to the World Cup. The most important thing is to focus on confronting Jordan, and put the meeting of Iraq aside to its time.
*The new technical staff of the Palestine team used new names .. What do you think of them?
We have a large constellation of stars in various stadiums in the world, and I think the technical staff is in a difficult position now; Because all the strikers of the national team scored goals with their clubs this week, and I hope that the technical staff chooses the most appropriate formation among them. The confrontation in front of Jordan is important and we must put the necessary plan for it, and I hope to see a team that suits what befits the Palestinian people, and to focus in each match separately, until it reaches advanced positions.
*The Palestinian masses say that the summonses focused on the attackers .. Is there a lack of defenders?
I do not agree however, we have high -level defenders and play in good leagues, we have the birth of Termanini and Mohamed Saleh, for example, and they are brilliant in the Qatari league. Previously, we needed to link more between the defense and attack lines, with an active midfield. In general, I hope that we will follow a complete integrated team, playing well, and that the players will put the interest of everyone over the interest of individuals.
*How can the Palestine team avoid the mistakes of the first leg against Jordan, in which it lost (1-3)?
We will play on the ground of the Jordan national team and among its fans, we must focus on the defense line, and I think that playing on the counterattack is the most appropriate, in addition to caring for the support of the midfield for defenders, the Jordan team has the best attack line in Asia, and we must know how to deal with this trio, and not to leave it enough spaces.
*What is your advice to the guerrilla defenders in the face of the Iraqi top scorer, Ayman Hussein?
Whether Termanini or Mohamed Saleh, the most important for me, is to defend against the Iraq national team and its attacker, Ayman Hussein, is the role of the pivot player (defending medium). In the past matches, we had a clear problem related to the second ball in particular. Ayman Hussein is almost the best striker in Asia, and yet it is not difficult for us to stop him or stop his team, or Jordan’s team as well; Because we currently have the best generation in the history of Palestinian football, and I hope that we will have a good position at the end of the qualifiers.
*What are your expectations for the result of the two games?
The closest is to draw in the two games, but there is nothing difficult, recently, Uday Al -Dabbagh scored two goals, and a medal that offers good levels, and therefore, we can also win the two games, because our level is not different from the level of competitors, and if you get tickets I will be present in Amman to follow the two games.