A woman waves a Palestinian flag and chants during the World Cup Asia third qualifying match between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

A Korean version of the Palestinian national anthem began to resonate from the cheering section Thursday night, during the 2026 World Cup Asia third qualifying match between Palestine and South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

The fans, who had translated the anthem into Korean, also unfurled a large Palestinian flag over their heads. This match, which was the opening game of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia Regional Third Qualifying Round, marked South Korea's first official game under head coach Hong Myung-bo.

It also marked Palestine's first-ever advancement to the third round of World Cup qualifiers, a significant achievement considering the nation's challenging circumstances.

A group of about 50 citizens gathered voluntarily to support the residents of the Gaza Strip, cheering loudly for Palestine throughout the match.

Adorned with Palestinian clappers, flags, and tattoos, the supporters initially seemed hesitant in the face of the roaring cheers from the "Red Devils," the official South Korean supporters.

However, as Palestine held out with a scoreless first half, their enthusiasm grew, shifting the atmosphere in the stadium. Every time Palestinian goalkeeper Rami Hamada, who was named MVP of the match, made a save, cheers erupted from the stands.

A member of the Palestinian football team waves the national flag after a scoreless draw in the 2026 World Cup Asia third qualifying match between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Thursday. Yonhap

Cheering within FIFA regulations

An activist from the Korean Civil Society Emergency Action in Solidarity with Palestine, who organized the supporters, said, "I've heard that the people of Palestine are very passionate about football. We came here hoping that our cheering squad would be shown on TV, so the displaced residents of Gaza could see our support."

A 20-year-old Algerian national also came to the stadium to support Palestine.

"I live in Korea, but I hope Palestine wins," she said. She said that while Korea often has opportunities on the international stage, for Palestine, the World Cup is a rare chance to shed light on their current situation.

Cheering during the match was strictly limited to the game itself. Signs listing "banned items" were displayed throughout the stadium, seemingly in consideration of the international situation Palestine is facing.

Prohibited items included those related to politics, religion, racial discrimination, unlicensed commercial activities, and items that could disrupt the game, such as large loudspeakers.

The cheering squad, which had coordinated via social media and the KakaoTalk messenger app, set internal guidelines to only support the Palestinian national team "without violating FIFA regulations."

Spectators cheer for Palestine during the 2026 World Cup Asia third qualifying match between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Thursday. Yonhap

Supporters chant freedom after match

After the match ended, chants of "Free Palestine" echoed throughout the stadium. When the final whistle blew, marking a scoreless draw in the second half, dozens of Palestinian flags waved in celebration from the away stands.

Hidden supporters also emerged, chanting "Free Palestine." A woman holding a Palestinian flag moved to the front of the stands, shouting liberation slogans and calling out the names of the Palestinian national team players who had approached the stands.

Despite the ongoing war, the Palestinian national team has been gaining attention for their remarkable performance. Since their debut in 2015, Palestine made history by advancing to the round of 16 in the AFC Asian Cup this year, bringing immense joy to their people.

Mohammad Saleh, a footballer from Gaza, expressed his feelings, saying, "Whenever we win a football match, the people of Gaza come out to the streets."

Considering that South Korea had not lost a home qualifier since 2013, Palestine's result in this match is even more surprising. In the upcoming third-round qualifiers, Palestine will face Jordan, while South Korea will take on Oman.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.