He added "I believe that our people are eager for peace with the Israelis and with the whole world. I hope one day, that there will be independent Palestinian state that would join the World Cup."

    The World Cup comes this year, as the Palestinians argue on a document issued and signed by leaders of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, mainly leaders of rival Hamas and Fatah movements.

    The document is called "the Document of Concord" that accepts the establishment of a Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, including Jerusalem as it capital. It called also for forming a national coalition government instead of being Hamas-led one.

    A ten-day dialogue to discuss, debate and agree on the document is scheduled to be finalized on Sunday. According to President Abbas, if the parties fail to agree on the document and approve it, he would call for a popular referendum.

    Observers expect that the World Cup games might coincide with disputes between the government and President Abbas, on whether the latter has the legitimacy to call for a referendum or not.

    "I'm afraid that this time, the Palestinians might not be very much interested to watch the football games of the World Cup, due to political and economic problems," said Ayman Abu al-Najja, a Palestinian storekeeper in Gaza.

    He added that civil servants haven't been paid their salaries for three months, in addition to the Israeli threats to storm the Gaza Strip if militants keep firing homemade rockets. "People are depressed enough due to these troubles."