Displaced Gazans watch the Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup between Egypt and Argentina, in the ruins of Gaza City, on July 7, 2026. (Credit: Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)
In normal times, I am not a fan of football at all. But when it comes to the World Cup, I turn obsessive. It is one season that comes once every four years, and I make the most of it. I prepare my vibes beforehand, usually gather with my husband or my family, and watch almost every match. The matches that always mattered most to us were those of other Arab countries. We usually knew they would be eliminated sooner or later, but that never stopped us from cheering for them. It is the Arab soul, one simple way that makes us feel close and united despite all the conflicts and divisions we endure.This year, nothing feels like before. Neither the excitement, conditions, nor atmosphere resemble what they once were. Most matches take place in the evenings, when our solar system cannot even power a single lamp. The internet is either unavailable...
In normal times, I am not a fan of football at all. But when it comes to the World Cup, I turn obsessive. It is one season that comes once every four years, and I make the most of it. I prepare my vibes beforehand, usually gather with my husband or my family, and watch almost every match. The matches that always mattered most to us were those of other Arab countries. We usually knew they would be eliminated sooner or later, but that never stopped us from cheering for them. It is the Arab soul, one simple way that makes us feel close and united despite all the conflicts and divisions we endure.This year, nothing feels like before. Neither the excitement, conditions, nor atmosphere resemble what they once were. Most matches take place in the evenings, when our solar system cannot even power a single lamp. The internet is either...
Lebanese army bolsters presence around 'pilot zones'
