Adel Mohsen, a 56-year-old football enthusiast from Mukalla, Yemen, has watched every World Cup since 1982, defying wars, economic collapse, and political turmoil. But this year's tournament presents his biggest challenge yet, as power cuts and fuel shortages threaten to keep him from watching many matches.

Mohsen's backup battery broke down weeks before the tournament, and he cannot afford the $200 needed to replace it. A fuel shortage in Mukalla has also restricted his ability to travel by motorbike to watch games elsewhere. As a result, he relies on a public screen at a local stadium, where generators power the projector just minutes before kickoff.

“I think this is the worst World Cup,” Mohsen told Al Jazeera, sitting on a wooden bench in the dark stadium courtyard. “I might miss a lot of matches because of the power cuts.” He also cannot afford internet vouchers to stream matches on his phone.

Mohsen recalls his first World Cup in 1982, when television had just arrived in South Yemen. Matches were recorded in Aden and sent by bus to Mukalla, arriving a day late. “That was like a first lover engraved in memory,” he said, remembering Brazil's stars Zico, Falcão, and Éder.

The 1994 World Cup coincided with Yemen's civil war, making it the most difficult tournament for Mohsen. “That was the worst World Cup I have ever watched,” he said. “Security was unstable, and frequent power outages made it even harder to follow the games. I would watch one match and then miss three.”

Despite the hardships, Mohsen remains committed to his four-decade ritual. “I see sports as relief from hardship,” he explained. “People ask why we talk about football when there are so many problems. What do they want us to do – commit suicide? Sports give us a brief escape from all the hardships around us.”

Mohsen predicts France will win this year's tournament.

Source: www.aljazeera.com