Extract from ABC News
After being mobbed by adoring Perth fans following a sold-out World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos, Mohammed Saleh takes a moment to collect his thoughts.
Worlds away in Gaza, the 30-year-old Palestinian defender’s homeland has been devastated by a raging war.
It's hard to imagine a greater contrast.
"We lost a lot of people — my uncle, my auntie, my auntie's children, and their children and we lost our house," he says.
"I lost a lot of friends that I used to play soccer with and my assistant coach.
"The house can be replaced but they cannot."
Soccer now a mission
While the Socceroos thrashed the team 5-0 in Perth on Tuesday, Saleh has had worse days, having already witnessed three wars by his early 20s.
In the early stages of the Israel-Gaza conflict, Saleh says he struggled to play soccer at all. But now, he's made it his mission to play for the people of Palestine.
"It is my biggest motivation because I play for them and their souls," he tells the ABC, speaking through an interpreter.
His father and brother have been displaced and are currently living in tents at an encampment in Gaza after their home was destroyed.
"I have not spoken with my father in one-and-a-half months," he said.
"My oldest brother has to go somewhere every few days to get internet to send me a message.
"It's affected me a lot … they're always on my mind and I always worry about them."
Destined to play
Palestine's past on-field success has secured them a spot in the next round of qualifiers as they head towards the 2026 World Cup, in an historic first for the team.
Playing soccer from a young age, Saleh knew he was destined for a career in the sport.
He remembered watching the national Palestine football team at the Arab Games as a six-year-old boy and decided from that moment he wanted to play for Palestine.
He left Gaza in 2015 and now lives in Egypt with his wife and daughter.
According to the United Nations, more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the October 7 Hamas attack.
The militant group had killed about 1,200 Israelis with around 250 taken hostage.
Now in its eighth month, there are no signs the war is abating.
'It's really difficult'
Spanish-Palestinian player Yaser Hamed shared the limelight at the Perth match.
Despite living miles away from the conflict in Spain, he said seeing his father's family suffering in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has left him feeling helpless.
"The videos and everything that they send to me, it's a difficult situation, really difficult, and I suffer when I see it," he said.
"I send money and I try to help them but now the situation, even if they have money it's not enough, you know."
The Palestinian team last played on home soil in 2019 and have since played 28 games outside.
Team captain Mohammed Rashid said not being able to play to a home crowd was "the hardest part".
"The last time we played against Saudi at home it was a full house, people were climbing trees to watch the game.
"To see that at home it honestly gives you a lot of push and a lot of motivation."
Along with 17 other teams including Australia, Palestine is through to the third round of qualifying starting in September.
Hamed says the team have been boosted by encouraging messages.
"Now with this historic achievement, they get some happiness in their life," he said.
President denied visa
While Australia and many other western nations like the US and UK don't formally recognise the state of Palestine, FIFA — the world governing body for soccer — gave the Palestine Football Association (PFA) full membership in 1998.
As of June 2024, 146 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, with the latest countries being Spain, Ireland, and Norway.
Last week, PFA president Jibril Rajoub was set to travel with the team to Perth for the game against the Socceroos but he was not granted a visa by Australian authorities, sparking controversy.
Secretary Firas Abu Hilal said he was told Mr Rajoub's presence "wasn't deemed important".
"He is the leader of the team, he is like a father to the players … it impacted them greatly," he said.
Mr Hilal said he was proud of the team's achievements under great adversity.
"[Qualifying] is proof that the Palestinian people and the Palestinian sportsmanship will defend and fight for their freedom and continue to put a smile on the [faces of] Palestinian children, the elderly and the women of Palestine."
For Saleh, staying in the competition is a temporary antidote to the tragedies unfolding back home.
"Despite challenging times, I am determined to share my message as a player," he said.
"No matter what happens, we are the people of justice, we are the people of the land, and we will continue to fight as the team of Palestine."
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