Jerusalem. The Palestinian team is closer than ever to qualifying for the World Cup after advancing to the third round of Asia's qualifiers as one of the continent's top 18 teams.

Their journey continues with one of the toughest challenges in Asian soccer: facing South Korea in Seoul on Thursday in front of 66,000 fans. South Korea has qualified for the last 10 World Cup tournaments and was a semifinalist in 2002.

The top two teams from each of the three groups in this round will secure six of the eight spots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation for the 2026 World Cup. Teams finishing third and fourth will enter a fourth round to compete for the remaining two spots.

"Our goal is to be among the top four in the group, and we are capable of achieving that," said Makram Daboub, head coach of the Palestinian team, in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm very happy to have reached this important stage, and I'm very proud of the players. This is the result of teamwork."

Facing South Korea, including English Premier League star Son Heung-min, presents a new level of challenge for the world’s 96th-ranked team.

"Son is an excellent player, but we're facing the entire South Korean national team, which has other strong players as well. Our focus is on the group and playing against the best teams in Asia," Daboub said.

Group B also includes Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait. The Palestinians have been preparing in Malaysia and will return to Kuala Lumpur for their next match against Jordan.

The Palestinian team has grown accustomed to playing on the road. They advanced through the second round of continental qualifying for the first time in June, but due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, they played their "home" games in Kuwait and Qatar.

Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza following an Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and abducted another 250. The conflict, now in its 11th month, has claimed over 40,000 lives according to Gaza health officials.

"The situation is getting more difficult in every aspect," Daboub said. "What concerns me most, besides the psychological toll, is the physical condition of the players, as many of them are without clubs."

The match in Seoul marks Hong Myung-bo's first game in his second tenure as South Korea’s head coach.

"This match is important for the national team, not just for me," said Hong, who resigned after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. "This is World Cup qualification."

Group C is the toughest in Asia, featuring Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Japan, the highest-ranked Asian team at No. 18, opens against China and has 20 Europe-based players in its squad. Australia and Saudi Arabia are both aiming for their seventh World Cup appearance.

"We need to focus on our job and get it done, because it's important," said Socceroos coach Graham Arnold before Australia’s opener against Bahrain. "Everyone starts on zero points, zero goals for and against, and it all begins now."

In Group A, Iran is expected to qualify for a fourth consecutive World Cup, and 2022 host Qatar is aiming to qualify through the qualifiers for the first time. Qatar faces the United Arab Emirates in their opener, while Uzbekistan hosts North Korea.

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