Sitting outside his makeshift tent in Gaza City's Yarmouk Stadium, 43-year-old Sameeh Totah stares at his mobile phone screen, watching a World Cup game from the night before. With frequent internet and electricity outages, he often has no choice but to rely on delayed broadcasts or match highlights.

"The situation is bad, especially the internet networks. They keep cutting out," he said. "Sometimes you get the chance to watch a full match, but power cuts ruin the experience. It's nothing like before the war, when electricity was available and there were places where people could gather to watch matches."

The father of six recalls the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he was still living in his home in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood. Watching football was then a social occasion that brought together friends and relatives, offering a brief escape despite the difficult circumstances.

"At least back then, people felt relatively comfortable," he said. "We could gather with friends and loved ones and watch the matches. Despite everything, there was still room for life."

Sameeh no longer lives in Zeitoun. He was displaced by Israel's genocidal war, which has killed over 73,000 Palestinians since October 2023, and his home remains in an Israeli-designated forced displacement zone. Now living in a tent near Yarmouk Stadium, he compares those memories with his current reality.

The war has not only made it harder to watch football but has also stripped away much of the excitement. "It's very difficult to follow matches the way we used to," he said. "Sometimes I watch highlights after already knowing the result. Once you know the score, the joy and excitement are gone."

For 21-year-old Yousef al-Nuaizi from Gaza City, football still holds a special place, but watching the World Cup has become exhausting. Recently, he and his friends walked a long distance to a cafe to watch a game, only to find it closed due to a power outage.

"Our lives have changed completely," he said. "There are no basic necessities. Even going to the toilet requires waiting for your turn for an hour. At home, I could do whatever I wanted freely. Now we're living in tents with no privacy."

Yarmouk Stadium, where he now lives as a displaced person, was once part of cherished memories. "I used to come here to watch local football matches," he recalled. "This stadium held beautiful memories for everyone. Today, it has become a place of displacement instead of a place of joy."

Due to the war, many sports facilities across Gaza have been repurposed as shelters, while others have been destroyed. "To be honest, I'm not really excited about the matches anymore," Yousef said. "I mostly watch them to pass the time. The real passion is gone."

Despite the hardships, some are trying to recreate a small part of the World Cup atmosphere. Inside a temporary cafe built from tarpaulins and wooden planks, 26-year-old Tariq al-Jadba provides a place for displaced residents to watch matches. "People come to watch football, but we watch while we're afraid," he said. "Especially during matches played late at night or before dawn. There's always fear of nearby bombardment or an attack."

Chronic shortages of electricity and fuel make keeping screens running a daily struggle. "We all depend on neighborhood generators," he explained. "Sometimes we try to coordinate with generator owners to provide electricity during matches, but many don't have enough fuel. Solar power alone isn't enough to keep the place running late into the night."

Despite obstacles, al-Jadba remains determined. "I've followed football since I was five years old," he said. "Palestinians in Gaza love football. We are a young and athletic society. These conditions have made it harder for people to watch matches, but when Arab teams play, the atmosphere becomes lively again and the excitement returns."

Source: www.aljazeera.com