Palestine began their quest for a place at the 2026 World Cup with a goalless draw against Lebanon in their Group I World Cup qualifier in Sharjah on Thursday. The match was played at Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium in Sharjah because of a one-match stadium ban on 'host' Lebanon following unruly scenes in their qualifier against Syria in Beirut last year. But with Palestine also displaced because of the current conflict with Israel in Gaza -- they play their first 'home' game against Australia in Kuwait next week -- the two sides stood for a minute's silence before the game for the victims of the fighting.