Gaza residents watch World Cup matches in displacement camps

Residents of Gaza City displacement camps are watching World Cup matches from tents and temporary cafes set up near Yarmouk Stadium. Many rely on delayed broadcasts or match highlights because of repeated electricity and internet outages. Sameeh Totah, 43, sits outside his tent and follows games on his phone.

He said the situation is bad, especially the internet networks, and that power cuts ruin the experience.

Daily conditions Totah recalled watching the 2022 World Cup from his home in the Zeitoun neighborhood, where gatherings with friends and family were common. He now lives in a tent after being displaced from an area designated by Israeli authorities.

Yousef al-Nuaizi, 21, walked with friends to a cafe before dawn only to find it closed due to lack of electricity. When they located another venue, they managed to watch for about 40 minutes before exhaustion set in. Al-Nuaizi said basic tasks such as using the toilet now require waiting in line for an hour.

He added that he mostly watches matches to pass the time and that the real passion is gone.

Makeshift viewing spots Tariq al-Jadba, 26, operates a temporary cafe built from tarpaulins and wooden planks inside a displacement camp. National flags and football-themed artwork hang from the walls. Al-Jadba said people come to watch but remain afraid, especially during late-night or pre-dawn matches, because of the risk of nearby bombardment.

The cafe depends on neighborhood generators that often lack sufficient fuel. He noted that when Arab teams play, the atmosphere becomes lively again despite the constraints.