GAZA, (PIC)
With the launch of the 2026 World Cup competitions, the eyes of football fans around the world turn to the biggest and most followed sporting event, but the scene in the Gaza Strip looks completely different, where the repercussions of war, destruction, and displacement overshadow the atmosphere of football enthusiasm, turning the following of the tournament into a daily challenge facing thousands of young people and families.
Although football has long been an important outlet for the residents of the Strip, the exceptional circumstances imposed by the war have made following the World Cup matches extremely difficult, in light of the deteriorating economic conditions, the continuous power and communication outages, and the high costs of accessing sports broadcasting.
Decline of interest due to living conditions
Captain Mustafa Nofal, a football coach in Gaza, confirms that enthusiasm for the World Cup is still present among young people, but the difficult living conditions have imposed different priorities on citizens.
Nofal told the PIC reporter that the majority of families have become preoccupied with securing basic needs of food, water, and daily life necessities, which has made following the tournament or subscribing to sports channels a secondary matter for many families.
He pointed out that the war directly affected the sports sector, whether through the destruction of sports facilities or the martyrdom of a large number of athletes and players, which was reflected on the sports scene in general.
Technical obstacles and high costs
The cost of subscribing to the channels broadcasting the tournament emerges as one of the most prominent obstacles for fans, along with the difficulty of obtaining special receiver devices for sports broadcasting.
According to followers of the satellite broadcasting sector, modern devices for receiving sports channels have become rare inside the Strip as a result of the restrictions imposed on their entry, which led to a significant increase in their prices compared to their prices in external markets.
Also, internet broadcasting services do not constitute a practical solution for many residents, because of the damage to the communications infrastructure and the frequent interruptions in internet and electricity services.
Following fraught with risk
The difficulties are not limited to economic and technical aspects, but also extend to security concerns, as gathering in cafes or public squares to watch matches has become fraught with risks in light of the continuation of bombing and targeting.
Citizens indicate that many fans prefer to follow the matches inside their places of residence or displacement centers whenever capabilities are available, instead of moving at night or gathering in public places. From the atmosphere of Qatar to the reality of war
Gaza residents recall memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when halls and squares were filled with fans who followed the matches through giant screens amidst a wide celebratory atmosphere.
As for the 2026 World Cup, it comes in light of a different situation imposed by the war, after the sports sector suffered heavy losses that included the destruction of dozens of sports facilities and the martyrdom of more than 1,000 athletes and workers in the sports field, which cast its shadow on various aspects of sports life.
Despite all these challenges, the passion for football remains present among the residents of Gaza, who try to hold on to the few moments of joy provided by the international tournament, in the face of a daily reality that is becoming more and more cruel and complex.