CNN
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Many players were unable to take a more complete penalty. The ball was confidently excavated into the upper left corner, making it a near-impossible save for the goalkeeper.
That helped Palestinian forward O’Day Dubbag perform one of the most high-pressure scenarios of his career to date, helping his Aberdeen side win a Celtic shootout in the Scotland Cup final.
This was the first time in 35 years that Aberdeen has unlocked the Scotland Cup, and for Dabbagh, victory was a moment of instant, undiluted joy. He says the sight of his penalty flying behind the goal is “with me forever.”
A month ago, Dabbagh played an even more important role in Aberdeen’s Scotland Cup campaign, scoring a goal towards Hart in the final minutes of his final hours. The 26-year-old quickly gained a legendary position despite being only at the club for four months on loan from Charleroy on the Belgian side.
“It’s a big deal for me,” Dabbagh told CNN Sports.
As for what comes next in Dabbagh’s club career, he is set to return to Charleroi on his current contract until 2026 after the loan spell with Aberdeen ended at an epic high.
But at the forefront of his mind is the Palestinian national team’s attempts to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 75% of all UN members, but is a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly, as the United States consistently blocks UN membership. As a soccer team, Palestine has been recognized by the World Governing Body of Sports since 1998. Despite three appearances in the Asian Cup since then, the national team has not yet competed in the World Cup, but current players, including top scorer Dabba, have the opportunity to make history.
Next up the Palestinian national team will be two Crunch World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Kuwait. Currently, fifth in the qualifying group, teams must finish third or fourth to enter the fourth round of qualifying.
The odds of jumping above the group’s Oman are long, but the team is well supported by those returning home. For the people of Gaza, seeing a soccer team compete in the World Cup would otherwise be a beacon of light amidst a disastrous war and bloodshed.
In March, the Palestinian Football Association told CNN Sports that 408 athletes had been killed in a conflict with Israel. A majority of children, including players, officials and 270 soccer players.
Susan Sharabi, vice president of the Palestinian FA, said that the offices of the Gaza organizations at the time had either been destroyed or severely damaged, and that it is now being used to house homeless families.
Home games have been switched to locations around the world, including Jordan, Qatar, and even Malaysia.
“In spite of the genocide, our people are being imposed in Gaza,” Sharabi told CNN Sports in March.
Dabbagh is an important player in the Palestinian national team’s bid to qualify for the World Cup. The highest scorer ever with 16 goals, including a hat-trick against Bangladesh in the first round of last year’s qualifying, embracing every opportunity to represent the Canaan lion, dreaming of doing so at its greatest stage for a long time.
“It’s one of the greatest honors of my life,” he tells CNN. “I know what it means to so many people, my family, my team and me to wear a Palestinian shirt…it’s powerful.”
Dubbag considers himself a pioneer. This is with Portuguese Aluka before moving to Charloi in 2023, despite being the first Palestinian player to be cultivated in major European leagues.
“I hope that what I can achieve will help others to clarify the path a little,” he says. “I know how much football means to everyone who returns home. I don’t underestimate it. Everyone has dreams. If the kids who return home see me and start believing that it is possible, that means it all.
Dabbagh made his professional debut with Hilal Al-Quds in the West Bank Premier League at just 16 years old. He won three league titles before representing a series of teams with Kuwait, and another title in 2021 at Al-Arabi.
The move to Portugal, Belgium, and then Scotland, is an unprecedented career arc for players who grew up kicking the ball on the streets of Jerusalem. He hopes that he once sent a clear message to other young boys and girls in the same situation.
“Don’t believe it,” says Dubbag. “Work hard, stay focused, never lose your passion. You belong to the world stage.”
If the Palestinian national team qualifies for the World Cup, Dubbag and his teammates could be at their biggest stage. For the forward, it will certainly be an unlikely, high point in a trophy-filled career.