Palestine women's national football team
| Nickname(s) | الفدائيات (The Fedayeen) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Palestinian Football Association (الاتحاد الفلسطيني لكرة القدم) | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFF (West Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Nasser Beitello | ||
| Captain | Aya Khattab | ||
| FIFA code | PLE | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 134 2 (12 June 2025)[1] | ||
| Highest | 84 (December 2013) | ||
| Lowest | 136 (December 2023 – March 2024; March 2025) | ||
| First international | |||
| Jordan 9–0 (Amman, Jordan, 23 September 2005) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| 18–0 Qatar (Manama, Bahrain, 20 October 2010) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Jordan 10–0 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 26 February 2010) Jordan 10–0 (Amman, Jordan; 19 April 2014) 0–10 North Korea (Dushanbe, Tajikistan; 2 July 2025) | |||
| WAFF Championship | |||
| Appearances | 7 (first in 2005) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2014) | ||
The Palestine women's national football team (Arabic: المنتخب الفلسطيني لكرة القدم النسائي) represents Palestine in international women's football competitions. The team was established by Samar Araj in 2003[2][3] and is controlled by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), the governing body for football in Palestine.
Palestine played their first match in 2005 against Jordan in a 9–0 defeat at the WAFF Women's Championship. Five years later, they entered their first AFC Women's Asian cup Qualification. Although Palestine didn't make it to the final tournament, they recorded their first international win during the qualification campaign with a 4–0 win against the Maldives.
Whilst the team has yet to qualify for any major international tournament, they participated in seven (out of eight) WAFF Women's Championship editions. Their best performance came in 2014 when they finished as runners-up, marking their highest achievement to date.
History
On 15 May 2024, 76 years from the Nakba, the Palestine women's national team played an unofficial friendly game against Irish club Bohemians in Dublin, Ireland, winning 2–1. The game marked the first time any senior Palestine national team played a game in Europe.[4]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2024
| 1 June 2024 Friendly | Bahrain | 0–1 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| 18:45 UTC+3 | Report | Nasr 80' | Stadium: Al Ahli Stadium Referee: Esraa Al-Mbaiden (Jordan) |
| 4 June 2024 Friendly | 2–1 | Bahrain | Manama, Bahrain | |
| 18:45 UTC+3 | Report |
|
Stadium: Al Ahli Stadium Referee: Esraa Al-Mbaiden (Jordan) |
| 29 November 2024 Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 | Doha, Qatar | |
| 19:00 UTC+3 | Report | Youssef 66' | Stadium: Aspire Academy Stadium Referee: Khalid Al-Shaqsi (Oman) |
| 3 December 2024 Friendly | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | Doha, Qatar | |
| 19:00 UTC+3 | Report |
|
Stadium: Aspire Academy Stadium Referee: Khalid Al-Shaqsi (Oman) |
2025
| 6 April 2025 Non-FIFA friendly | Vålerenga | 4–0 | Oslo, Norway | |
| 14:30 UTC+1 |
|
Stadium: Intility Arena |
| 29 May 2025 Friendly | Lebanon | 1–1 | Beirut, Lebanon | |
| 18:00 UTC+3 | Iskandar 70' | Report | Youssef 45+6' | Stadium: Champville Stadium Referee: Alesar Baddour (Syria) |
| 1 June 2025 Friendly | Lebanon | 2–1 | Jounieh, Lebanon | |
| 17:00 UTC+3 | Report | Nasr 70' | Stadium: Fouad Chehab Stadium |
| 24 June 2025 Friendly | Uzbekistan | 4–0 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | |
| 20:00 UTC+5 |
|
Stadium: Do'stlik Stadion |
| 29 June 2025 2026 Asian Cup qualification | Malaysia | 1–0 | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | |
| 19:00 UTC+5 | Farahiyah 86' | Report (AFC) | Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Yang Shu-ting (Chinese Taipei) |
| 2 July 2025 2026 Asian Cup qualification | 0–10 | North Korea | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | |
| 19:00 UTC+5 | Report |
|
Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Roziyabonu Yusupova (Uzbekistan) |
| 5 July 2025 2026 Asian Cup qualification | 3–0 | Tajikistan | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | |
| 22:00 UTC+5 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan) |
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Team manager | Amal Abusharekh |
| Head coach | Nasser Beitello |
| Assistant coach | Ahmad Hammad |
| Fitness coach | Remah Mahmoud |
| Physiotherapist | Salwa Baba Sabreen Owda |
Historical
- Hani Al Majdoubah (2009–2013)
- Nasser Beitello (2014)
- Abdul Fattah Arar (2017)
- Ahmed Sharf (2018)
- Raed Al Khdour (2019)
- Simon Khair (2021)
- Nasser Beitello (2022–present)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification matches against Uzbekistan and another opponent in June 2025.[5]
Information correct as of 23 June 2025.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Charlotte Phillips | 24 June 2005 | Vaughan SC | |||
| GK | Mirave Marouf | 14 January 2006 | Future Nashama | |||
| GK | Guevara Alsheikh | Moraine Valley | ||||
| DF | Sara Kord | 5 February 2005 | Al Ahly | |||
| DF | Sireen Ghattas | 29 May 2001 | Al Ahly | |||
| DF | Pia Kassis | 26 September 2008 | Beirut Football Academy | |||
| DF | Dalia Asad Halim | San Francisco Dons | ||||
| DF | Aya Khattab (Captain) | 22 December 1999 | ||||
| DF | Dima Kayal | 15 October 1997 | Boatot Tamra | |||
| DF | Nagham Shebat | Çekmeköy BilgiDoğa | ||||
| MF | Sara Shakhsher | 26 April 2004 | Saryyet Ramallah | |||
| MF | Nadine Elias | 31 May 1995 | Arraba | |||
| MF | Dima Al Ramhe | 23 November 2001 | Tamra | |||
| MF | Nadine Mohamed | 7 October 2003 | Al Ahly | |||
| MF | Ahlam-Laila Nasr | 4 November 2004 | Al Ahly | |||
| MF | Naomi Phillips | 3 February 2007 | Alliance United | |||
| MF | Dina Abdeen | 21 November 2006 | South County | |||
| MF | Rania Sansur | 24 April 2006 | CD Palestino | |||
| MF | Zjada Baydass | 23 March 2004 | Highline College | |||
| MF | Emily Ibrahim | 30 July 2003 | ||||
| FW | Hala Sarrawi | 14 February 2003 | Ittihad Nablus | |||
| FW | Miral Qassis | 22 July 2006 | FC Masar | |||
| FW | Florencia Saavedra | 4 April 2005 | McNeese Cowgirls | |||
| FW | Nour Youssef | 18 July 2005 | Viktoria Berlin | |||
| FW | Narin Abu Asfar | 12 January 2008 | Rosengård | |||
| FW | Malak Barakat | 16 March 2006 | Nashama Al-Mustaqbal | |||
| FW | Fadwa El Husseiny | 2003 (age 21–22) | ZED | |||
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months but were not included in the June 2025 Asian qualifiers.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Natalia Fernández | - | - | v Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 | ||
| DF | Amna Bakri | 4 October 1999 | - | - | Hapoel Ihud Bnot I'billin | v Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 |
| DF | Mira Natour | 15 May 1999 | - | - | v Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 | |
| MF | Tala Gabi | 2007 (age 17–18) | - | - | 2024 WAFF Championship | |
| MF | Lillian Nasrah | 13 April 2004 | - | - | 2024 WAFF Championship | |
| MF | Jeniver Shattara | 9 May 2003 | - | - | v Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 | |
| FW | Natali Qassis | - | - | 2024 WAFF Championship | ||
| FW | Aya Abed | 5 January 1999 | - | - | Hapoel Ihud Bnot I'billin | v Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 |
| DF | Dina Abdeen | 21 November 2006 | - | - | South County | v Lebanon, 29 May 2025 |
| DF | Rania Sansur | 24 April 2006 | - | - | CD Palestino | v Lebanon, 29 May 2025 |
Previous squads
- WAFF Women's Championship
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
| FIFA Women's World Cup record | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | ||
| 2003 | Did not enter | ||||||||||
| 2007 | |||||||||||
| 2011 | Did not qualify | ||||||||||
| 2015 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | |||||||||||
| 2027 | |||||||||||
| 2031 | To be determined | ||||||||||
| 2035 | To be determined | ||||||||||
| Total | 0/6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games
| Summer Olympics record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD | |
| 1996 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| 2000 | |||||||||
| 2004 | |||||||||
| 2008 | |||||||||
| 2012 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2016 | |||||||||
| 2020 | |||||||||
| 2024 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| 2028 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| Total | 0/7 | ||||||||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
AFC Women's Asian Cup
| AFC Women's Asian Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 2003 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| 2008 | ||||||||
| 2010 | Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2014 | ||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| Total | 0/8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Asian Games
WAFF Women's Championship
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5th place | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 21 | −20 |
| 2007 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 2010 | 4th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 17 | +2 |
| 2011 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 | −12 |
| 2014 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | −2 |
| 2019 | 5th place | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | −11 |
| 2022 | 4th place | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | −7 |
| 2024 | Semi-finalist | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | −5 |
| Total | 7/8 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 37 | 92 | −55 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Arab Women's Championship
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 | −14 |
| 2021 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 |
Arabia Cup
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 14 | +10 |
See also
- Sport in Palestine
- Football in the State of Palestine
- Palestine women's national under-20 football team
- Palestine men's national football team
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "The Bethlehem Women's Football Team: The First in the Occupied Palestinian Territories". Alternative Information Center. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Tamimi, Iqbal (8 April 2009). "Women in Sport and Journalism: the first women's football team in Gaza played against the odds". Palestine Think Tank. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ "Bohemian FC Played the Palestine National Team to Raise Funds in a Friendly Match". www.versus.uk.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Palestine women's national team heads to Uzbekistan for Asian qualifiers". pfa.ps (in Arabic). Jerusalem: Palestinian Football Association. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.