Palestine withdraw from Merdeka Cup

The Merdeka Cup is set to kick-off on 13th October.

In a surprising turn of events, Palestine has withdrawn from the prestigious Merdeka Cup hosted by Malaysia, which was scheduled to start on 13th October, citing ongoing tensions with Israel as the reason behind their decision.

Sources close to the FA Malaysia stated, “The FA Malaysia is still confirming the status of participation of Palestine and are also discussing the possible replacements. An official statement is expected soon.”

Tensions between Palestine and Israel have been a longstanding issue in the Middle East, often spilling over into various aspects of life, including sports. The decision to withdraw from the Merdeka Cup underscores the profound impact that geopolitical conflicts can have on international sporting events.

This tournament is significant for India as it serves as a preparation phase for the upcoming joint qualifiers for the second round of the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup, as well as the AFC Asian Cup 2023 scheduled for January next year.

The Indian national team departed from Bengaluru to Malaysia to kickstart their preparations for a crucial match against the hosts. Reports suggest that this match is highly anticipated, with tickets selling out within minutes of being available.

Malaysia has a strong fan base and is known for creating a hostile and intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. Despite being ranked 134th in the FIFA rankings compared to India's 102nd position, the Southeast Asian team is a formidable opponent on their home turf. Malaysia also includes naturalized or dual passport-holding players in their squad.

Tajikistan, the third team in the competition, faced India in 2019 during the Intercontinental Cup in Ahmedabad. This match marked the first game for India's head coach Igor Stimac in India after taking over the team.