Australian National Team Donates to Gaza Humanitarian Causes Ahead of WCup Qualifier vs Palestine

Bangladesh's Rakib Hossain (L) is tackled by Australia's Jackson Irvine (R) during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Australia and Bangladesh played in Melbourne on November 16, 2023. (AFP)
Bangladesh's Rakib Hossain (L) is tackled by Australia's Jackson Irvine (R) during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Australia and Bangladesh played in Melbourne on November 16, 2023. (AFP)
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Australian National Team Donates to Gaza Humanitarian Causes Ahead of WCup Qualifier vs Palestine

Bangladesh's Rakib Hossain (L) is tackled by Australia's Jackson Irvine (R) during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Australia and Bangladesh played in Melbourne on November 16, 2023. (AFP)
Bangladesh's Rakib Hossain (L) is tackled by Australia's Jackson Irvine (R) during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Australia and Bangladesh played in Melbourne on November 16, 2023. (AFP)

Players on Australia's national soccer team will donate a portion of their match fees from a World Cup qualifier against Palestine towards humanitarian causes in Gaza.

Australia plays Palestine in Kuwait on Tuesday in a game that was going to be held in the West Bank but was relocated due to the escalation of violence in the region.

Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel’s southern region on Oct. 7 was followed by Israel declaring war on the group and launching retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials say more than 11,000 residents in Hamas-controlled Gaza have been killed in air and artillery strikes.

"It’s unfathomable to comprehend," midfielder Jackson Irvine was quoted by Australian Associated Press as saying Saturday. "You’re talking about one of the most complicated geopolitical issues of the last 100 years."

The players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia, confirmed a percentage of player match fees would be directed towards Oxfam’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, via the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust. The move is a player-led effort with Football Australia matching the players’ donation, but no dollar amounts were mentioned.

"The thoughts of the PFA are with all of those impacted by the conflict and the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding as a result," co-chief executive officer Beau Busch said in a statement. "Aid agencies and humanitarian groups have been clear on the scale of need and the players were able to play a part."

Irvine is the PFA president as well as captain of German club FC St. Pauli.

The Socceroos beat Bangladesh 7-0 in Melbourne on Thursday and took a charter flight to Kuwait on Saturday. The Palestinians held Lebanon to a 0-0 draw on neutral turf in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates in their second-round opener.

"We’re aware of the situation, we understand that football in this moment is probably not the priority in some ways," Irvine said. "But at the end of the day, we’ve got a game to win and a performance to focus on."



Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
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Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner showed no signs of fatigue from their China Open final earlier this week to advance with comfortable straight-set victories in their opening matches of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

The second-ranked Alcaraz, who beat the Italian in Beijing on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, recorded his 10th consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-2 result against 19-year-old Shang Juncheng of China.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won the first nine points of the match and four of seven break points as he rushed into a third-round meeting with another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.

“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me,” Alcaraz said. “He has been playing good tennis lately, lifting his first ATP (title in Chengdu), so I’m pretty sure he’s going to climb the rankings. I’m just happy to to be able to win these kinds of matches.”

Sinner, who is dealing with an ongoing doping case, had a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 outing against Taro Daniel of Japan for his 250th career win.

The Italian, who won the US Open last month for his second major of the year, fired 12 aces and 38 winners.

“I felt quite comfortable today,” said the 23-year-old Sinner, who next plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. “I feel in good shape also physically, which is very important for me. Of course I will try to improve for tomorrow’s performance, but today I was serving really, really well, especially in important moments, and was moving well.”

No. 65-ranked Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic broke sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev seven times on his way to an upset 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Yosuke Watanuki also had a surprise win, beating No. 35-ranked Brendan Nakashima 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Japanese qualifier plays either seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz of the US or French qualifier Terence Atmane next.

Also, 24th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia beat Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.

Later Saturday, third-ranked Alexander Zverev began his campaign against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, while fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic faced Alex Michelsen of the United States.