Friday 17/October/2025 – 12:02 AM
In a story that summarizes the athletes’ struggle for the dream, Mahmoud Abu Nada is considered one of the most prominent rising faces in the Asian goalkeeping sky, not only because of his remarkable technical level, but also because he represents a unique state of determination and belonging, as he comes from the Gaza Strip, but he has become one of the prominent elements in the ranks of Qatari teamwhich contributed to his leadership in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Mahmoud Abu Nada… from the streets of Gaza to the World Cup in a Qatar shirt
Mahmoud Abu Nada was born in 2000. He holds Palestinian citizenship, but later obtained Qatari citizenship. He began his new career within the Qatar Football Association’s talent development plan, and continued his technical development at a remarkable speed until he became one of the trusted names among those in charge of Qatari football.
Mahmoud Abu Nada’s brilliance with the Qatar national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was not a coincidence, as he had professional experiences in the Qatar Stars League, and presented strong levels that prompted the Al-Anabi technical staff to include him in the first team’s roster, where he participated during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and succeeded in providing a consistent performance that contributed to the positive results achieved by the team, including a goalless draw with Oman, a 2-1 victory over the Emirates, and his many saves that contributed to the victory. Annabi qualified for the World Cup.
The presence of Mahmoud Abu Nada’s name on the list of the Qatari team that qualified for the World Cup carries not only a sporting significance, but an inspiring humanitarian message, as Abu Nada became the first goalkeeper with Palestinian nationality to participate in the World Cup, even with the jersey of another country, which embodies the ability of the people of Palestine to reach the international level despite suffering.
Mahmoud Abu Nada is known for his high professionalism and leadership personality on and off the field, and those close to him confirm that he does not forget his Palestinian roots, and is always keen to express his pride in his origins, as he donated to Gaza after qualifying for the World Cup with Qatar.
Mahmoud Abu Nada does not intend to be satisfied with what has been achieved so far. Rather, he believes that the journey to success is still at its beginning, and he aspires to represent Annabi in the World Cup in the best way, and to be a source of pride for the fans of Qatar, and for the millions of Palestinians who follow his path as proof that hope cannot be defeated.
