The Palestinian Football Association will resume organized domestic competitions on September 4, 2026, ending a nearly three-year suspension enforced after the outbreak of the Gaza war, according to an official announcement by association president Jibril Rajoub.
Organized sports across Palestine ground to a halt following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent military conflict in Gaza.
The “Cup of a Thousand Martyrs” Tournament Format
To mark the resumption of play, the Palestinian Football Association scheduled an opening tournament named the “Cup of a Thousand Martyrs.” According to governing body figures cited by the association, the competition honors 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed during the conflict.
More than 200 clubs have registered to participate in the tournament. The field is geographically distributed across three distinct areas:
- 146 clubs from the Israeli-occupied West Bank
- 44 clubs from the Gaza Strip
- 36 clubs from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon
Matches for the opening tournament are scheduled to begin concurrently at all three locations.
Overcoming Financial and Logistical Hurdles
Addressing reporters in Ramallah, Rajoub acknowledged the immense operational and economic challenges facing the domestic sports infrastructure after years of conflict. The war created severe conditions that forced the complete suspension of all sporting activities, according to the association president.
However, he emphasized that the restart would proceed under difficult financial conditions, noting that the governing body will require logistical and monetary backing from FIFA and international sports organizations to sustain operations.
Next Steps for Palestinian Football
The return to competitive play officially begins on September 4, 2026, with matches kicking off across the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon.
