Gaza fans cheer Egypt in makeshift World Cup viewing areas
In Gaza City and Nuseirat, fans watched Egypt in World Cup viewing spots powered by batteries and generators, turning rubble into a brief public square.
Hundreds of people cheered for Egypt across Gaza as Palestinians gathered in makeshift World Cup viewing areas in cafes, markets, tents in displacement camps and public squares despite power cuts, scarce internet access and widespread destruction. In Nuseirat in central Gaza and in Gaza City, fans watched among rubble.
Mohamed Salah was the main attraction for many Gaza football fans, and Egypt drew some of the biggest crowds because of the close cultural and historical ties between Egypt and Gaza. In one viewing scene in Gaza City, supporters waved large Egyptian flags and followed the match while the Strip remained cut off and damaged.
Mustafa Siam, a member of the Palestinian Football Association, said the World Cup is “not a trivial event for Gazans.” Fadi Al-Arawi, a 38-year-old Palestinian soccer player, said the internet kept cutting out and that Gazans now had to search for charging points and internet cards just to stream matches. He recalled that in 2022, Gazans watched the World Cup at home with electricity.
At the Royal Cafe in Gaza City, organizers installed alternative power lines, a battery, a UPS system and a small generator to keep broadcasts running. Fuel shortages meant generators often failed after midnight. In 2022, screens were set up at Palestine Stadium and Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City and thousands gathered to watch evening matches.
Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, was denied a U.S. visa for World Cup-related travel, while Israeli controls on Gaza exits continued to limit movement.
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