AFC: Palestine, winner of Challenge Cup, qualifies for 2015 Asian Cup

The national team of Palestine won the last edition of the Challenge Cup, a competition that brings together emerging AFC (Asian Football Confederation) countries, defeating the Philippines (1-0) in Malé (Maldives) on 30/05/2014.

This victory allows Palestine to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup, to be hosted by Australia, from 09 to 30/09/2015. This is the first time that Palestine -- whose national federation is affiliated with AFC since 1998 -- has won an international competition.

PFA (Palestinian Football Association) and IFA (Israel Football Association) set up a mechanism under the supervision of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) to facilitate the movement of footballers and goods within and outside Palestine, as of 23/09/2013.

Jibril Al Rajoub, president of PFA, said on 26/05/2014 that he would ask for sanctions against IFA at the next FIFA congress on 11/06/2014 in Sao Paulo (BRA) for non-compliance with this mechanism; he believes that Israel continues to impede the free movement of Palestinian athletes.