Syria’s national football team has achieved a historic milestone by advancing to the knockout stage of the Asian Cup for the first time. This accomplishment holds particular significance for a country ravaged by conflict.
As the final whistle blew, Syria’s players jubilantly hoisted Omar Khribin into the air, fully aware of the magnitude of the moment.
Khribin’s goal, the sole goal scored by Syria during the group stages, secured a 1-0 victory against India and ensured their place in the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. This goal carries immense importance in the annals of Syrian football. Considering the team’s inability to play a home game for over a decade due to the ongoing conflict, the emotions of this moment were palpable. In the post-game interview with head coach Hector Cuper, both the translator and the interviewer were visibly moved to tears.
“We are thrilled with our qualification and incredibly proud of my players, who have made tremendous sacrifices to achieve this result,” expressed Cuper. “Our sole objective in the game was to win, and we managed to accomplish that. But we don’t want to stop here.”
Cuper, an Argentinian coach with an illustrious football career, has twice led Valencia to the Champions League final and guided Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2017, as well as their first World Cup in 28 years in 2018. At the age of 68, this may be his final hurrah in football. If so, he has brought a moment of joy to Syrian fans.
With their advancement to the knockout stage, Syria’s footballers are now dreaming of creating even more history. For many players, this tournament represents an opportunity to transform their careers.
“The Asian Cup is a prestigious tournament and provides an important platform for many players to showcase their abilities and attract attention,” shared Syrian midfielder Mohammed Osman with Arab News earlier this month. “Knowing that a strong tournament performance could lead to exciting new opportunities provides additional motivation.”
Out of the 26 players in the squad, 10 play outside the Middle East, with eight of them based in Syria. None of them compete in Europe’s top five leagues.
Syria’s Asian Cup journey may come to an end in the next round. It is also possible that none of the current squad members will secure moves to Europe, and this moment of greatness may not spark a run of form that aids their 2026 World Cup qualification. However, none of that matters at this moment. Syria’s footballers have made history, and that is something worth cherishing.
