Displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are watching World Cup matches in the ruins of war, relying on unstable internet connections and makeshift setups as they live through a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Fadi Al-Arawi, a footballer in the Gaza Strip Premier League, has not been able to play since professional sport was suspended after the outbreak of war more than two years ago. Like many in Gaza, he no longer has a home equipped with a television to watch the World Cup.
Palestinian soccer fans watch 2026 World Cup matches at a cafe in Gaza City, June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
As a match between Qatar and Switzerland began on Saturday, Al-Arawi wore his former Gaza Sports Club uniform and medals from international competitions while watching on a flickering laptop inside a school shelter for displaced people in Khan Younis.
Watching football amid bombardment and displacement
Al-Arawi said the internet connection repeatedly failed as he tried to follow the game, while the sound of drones could be heard overhead.
“See, this is the internet, it’s starting to cut out and the match hasn’t even started yet,” he told Reuters. “Can you hear the drones? We might live or die, we might be bombed.”
Palestinians attend a mock World Cup launch event at the Martyr Muhammad al-Durra Stadium, which houses people displaced during the Israeli offensive, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
He added that Israeli drone activity remained a constant presence during daily life in Khan Younis.
Much of Gaza has been destroyed and its infrastructure severely damaged during Israel’s military campaign, launched after the October 2023 Hamas attacks.
Despite an October 2025 truce, Israel has continued strikes in Gaza, while Hamas has rejected calls to disarm in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal.
Football under fear and destroyed infrastructure
Nearly the entire population of more than 2 million Palestinians now lives in a narrow coastal strip, mainly in tents or damaged buildings.
Palestinians attend a mock World Cup launch event at the Martyr Muhammad al-Durra Stadium, which houses people displaced during the Israeli offensive, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
In Gaza City, café owner Alaa Babli has installed backup power lines and a battery system to keep World Cup matches running after fuel generators shut down at night.
Visitors to his café, including Hani Abu Rizq, said fear remains constant even in public spaces.
“The cafe could be targeted,” he said. “Something next to me could be targeted and I could lose my life… But despite everything we are suffering, we are continuing, and we will watch the matches.”
The Palestinian Football Association says 1,000 athletes are among 73,000 Palestinians killed since the war began in 2023, spanning children, amateurs, referees and professionals.
Palestinians light a torch during a mock World Cup event at the Martyr Muhammad al-Durra Stadium, which houses people displaced during the Israeli offensive, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
It also reports that around 285 sports facilities have been destroyed, including stadiums that were bombed or bulldozed, while some were converted into detention sites.
The Al-Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City, once a major venue for professional football, is now being used as a tent camp for displaced families.
“Since the Israeli war of extermination in 2023, Palestinian sports have been a primary target of the Israeli military machine,” said Mustafa Siam of the Palestinian Football Association.
