Bangladesh national football team will face off a crucial Palestine challenge today when they will play their away match of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match for the FIFA World Cup 2006 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 to take place today.
The match will take place at the neutral venue at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium (Kuwait City), Kuwait at 12:30 am (BST).
Meanwhile, in the day’s other match the Group 1, leaders Australia will host Lebanon in Sydney.
Bangladesh, targeting to this match had a 13-day conditioning camp in Saudi Arabia and the players are excited to take the stronger side Palestine, who are FIFA ranked 97.
Despite Bangladesh is 183 in FIFA ranking, players are not focusing on that but to concentrate on their game. But the players and the coach are very much aware about the strength of Palestine, as coach and players repeatedly expressed their observations about Palestine team and their position in the FIFA ranking.
Bangladesh head Coah Javier Cabrera is highly expecting and also has confidnet his team will be able to bring back the momentum and and the spirit they demonstrated at their home ground against Lebanon.
Bangladesh players are mentally strong and got some confident after having a the conditioning camp in Saudi Arabia and playing two matches against Sudan national side.
Palestine went Kuwait with some high note when the drew 0-0 against Saudi Arabia in a FIFA friendly match in January when they also impressed after advancing to the knockout stage for the first time at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 when tey defeated Hong Kong and China.
Bangladesh also boosted up after a 0-0 draw against the stronger sides Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka in the ongoing competition.
Both the Bangladesh and Palestine earned one point after playing two matches and both the sides are in a similar position.
But Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera is confident his team will repeat the fighting spirit they showed in securing a goalless draw against Lebanon. “We have been extremely lucky in having nearly three weeks of preparation in Saudi Arabia before our FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine. The preparation has been complemented by practice matches against Sudan,” said Cabrera.
“We are aware of Palestine’s strengths, especially after their performance in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. But when we are at our best level, we are a tough team to beat, which we showed during the November window against Lebanon.”
“As we have prepared very well, we aim to give a tough fight to Palestine and get some points in our quest to become a better team.”