Foreign Correspondent: Pitch Battle

Foreign Correspondent returns for 2015 with an inspiring, against-all-odds story of the Palestinian football team as they compete for the first time in the biggest football tournament in Asia.

Narrated by Anthony LaPaglia, this one special, Pitch Battle, is currently being showcased at MIPTV in Cannes.

With some stark images and unique access, this is full of symbolism -but can you separate sport from politics?

The Palestinians became the Cinderella story of world sport in 2014 when they defied 18 other
teams in Asia to win the Challenge Cup – their first international trophy. But the real prize was the
ticket they won to compete in the 2015 Asian Cup, in Australia.

Never mind the fact that they’ll be up against the reigning champions of Asia – Japan – in their
very first match, in Newcastle, NSW. For millions of Palestinians at home, and thousands here in
Australia, the result on the field doesn’t really matter. It will be a victory just to see their flag
raised, and hear their national anthem played, in a country that still doesn’t officially recognise.

Palestine.Tuesday, April 14 at 8pm on ABC.