During the international football break on September 30, 2026, Konyaspor hosted the Palestine National Football Team for a friendly match at MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadium that ended in a 2-2 draw. The fixture formed part of “Palestine Day” events in Konya and drew a crowd of 42,000 spectators to a stadium where admission was free.
Match Action and Scoring Details
Konyaspor opened the scoring early when Melih İbrahimoğlu found the net in the 2nd minute, though some match reports attribute the opening goal to D. Gonçalves. Palestine responded through Mohammed Sandouqa, who scored in the 12th and 25th minutes to put the visitors ahead 2-1. Konyaspor equalized before halftime when Mostafa Mohamed scored in the 28th minute. Neither side scored in the second half, leaving the final score tied at 2-2 under referee Mehmet Türkmen.
Stadium Demonstrations and Humanitarian Messages
The match featured several paused sequences and stadium-wide demonstrations dedicated to children affected by the conflict in Gaza. In the first half, the referee halted play and stadium lights were turned off while screens displayed the names of children killed in Israeli military operations. Spectators threw thousands of stuffed toys onto the pitch to show solidarity. Perimeter advertising boards displayed messages in Turkish and English, including statistics on child casualties and statements regarding the humanitarian crisis.
Before kickoff, fans displayed a large choreography banner bearing the message: “Children are slept in silence, not when they die.” Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak and local officials joined Palestinian players on the pitch after the match to present flowers, an interaction that left several visiting players in tears.
Presidential Remarks on Bilateral Solidarity
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published a statement on social media praising the fixture as an exceptional demonstration of brotherhood and solidarity between Turkey and Palestine. Erdoğan thanked the 42,000 fans who filled the stadium to support the visiting team and highlighted Turkey’s ongoing commitment to defending Palestinian rights in international arenas.
Premature Match Conclusion at Minute 89:59
The match officials blew the final whistle at 89:59 rather than completing the full 90 minutes. The stadium scoreboard displayed the message: “The match has been postponed until Palestine is free!” An official stadium announcement explained that the premature ending served to draw attention to lives, dreams, and childhoods left unfinished in Palestine, rather than simply concluding a sporting contest.
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