The Palestine national football team has withdrawn from the Merdeka Cup tournament in Malaysia due to the Israel-Gaza conflict, as confirmed by the Malaysian football association. This decision stems from the current situation, preventing the Palestinian team from traveling to Kuala Lumpur.
Originally featuring four teams, including Palestine, Tajikistan, Malaysia, and India, the tournament has been affected by this withdrawal. The opening match, initially set between Palestine and Tajikistan, has been canceled.
As a result, Tajikistan will receive a bye to the final, while Malaysia and India will proceed with their fixture. The tournament is scheduled to run from Friday, October 13, to Tuesday, October 17, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East causing this unexpected development.
Notably, the Palestine national team faces upcoming qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Australia and Lebanon next month. Additionally, they have qualified for the regional Asian Cup tournament in Qatar, set to commence in January 2024.
