World Cup 2022: Morocco celebrates victory over Spain with Palestinian flag
After beating Spain to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the Moroccan national team players raised the Palestinian flag to celebrate their victory.
Footage on social media showed a number of Moroccan players raising the Palestinian flag alongside their own Moroccan one, taking a group photo with the Palestinian flag on the pitch following the end of the match.
Moroccan striker Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah carried the Palestinian flag and displayed it in the stadium in front of the fans.
Morocco achieved a historic victory over Spain, beating the team in a penalty shootout 3-0 after neither side scored in regular or extra time.
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Morocco will play in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against the winner of Tuesday's match between Portugal and Switzerland.
It is the first time that a country from the Middle East will play in the quarter-finals of the World Cup since Turkey did in 2002.
This year's World Cup is being hosted in the Arab world for the first time in history, giving fans from the region a rare window to showcase their culture and enjoy the game up close.
Despite Palestine not qualifying for the tournament, its national flag has become a ubiquitous symbol throughout the event.
Moroccan, Tunisian, and other Arab football fans have been seen displaying Palestinian flags and wearing Palestinian shawls over their shoulders.
In addition to attire, Palestine solidarity has manifested in different ways throughout the football tournament so far, with many fans viewing the games as an opportunity to raise support for Palestine.
Fans walking around Doha's hotspots and tourist destinations after matches could also be heard chanting in support of Palestine. The words "Free Palestine" could be heard from people strolling through the historic Souq Waqif.
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