Preview: Palestine vs. Yemen - prediction, team news, lineups

Palestine will meet Yemen in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in the final round of fixtures in the second stage of World Cup qualifying in Asia.

Neither country can qualify for the next stage but will want to avoid finishing bottom of Group D at this juncture.

Match preview

Yemen currently occupy that undesired bottom position with five points to their name, but a win would see them leapfrog Palestine who have seven points.

Ahmed Ali Qassim's side have only won one of their seven matches in this qualifying campaign, but that came against Palestine in November 2019, as Omar Al-Dahi secured a 1-0 victory in Bahrain.

That was their last win in any competition, as they have played six games since then and failed to triumph; conceding 15 goals and scoring just once. Their last outing was a 1-0 defeat to Uzbekistan on Friday.

Add in the fact that the Red Devils have won just four times since the start of 2017, it is no surprise that they are ranked 145th in the world, with Hong Kong and Lesotho either side of them.

Palestine are 41 places higher in 104th, largely thanks to a strong recent record. Aside from a 5-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia in March, the Lions of Canaan have won six of their last seven games – a streak that includes their victorious Bangabandhu Cup campaign last year.

They thrashed Singapore 4-0 in their last World Cup qualifying game, going three goals up inside half an hour helped by a pair of penalties from Tamer Seyam.

It was just their second victory in seven games in Group D and their first since the opening round of fixtures nearly two years ago.

Goalkeeper coach Makram Daboub is currently in interim charge of the national team after Noureddine Ould Ali's departure earlier this year.

Team News

After Palestine's 4-0 win over Singapore, Makram Daboub could be tempted to name an unchanged team on Tuesday.

The team's key danger man is 22-year-old winger Oday Dabbagh, who netted his fourth international goal in that victory over Singapore.

Veteran Yemen goalkeeper Mohammad Ayash could return between the sticks after not featuring against Uzbekistan.

The Red Devils have not scored in their last five matches, but if they are to find the back of the net, Ahmed Al-Sarori or Mohsen Qarawi are the most likely source.

Palestine possible starting lineup:
Hamada; Al-Battat, Bahdari, Hamed, Khalil; Rashid, Yameen, Modi; Dabbagh, Seyam, Kharoub

Yemen possible starting lineup:
Ayash; Noman, Abdurabu, Wahid, Boqshan; Al-Sarori, Saeed, Mohammedoh, Al-Matari; Mansoor, Qarawi

We say: Palestine 2-0 Yemen

Despite their country's domestic troubles, the Palestine team are on good form and eager to represent the nation in a positive light. They are favourites for this game and we expect them to claim victory against a Yemen outfit who have found both scoring and winning incredibly difficult of late.