Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Gaza across Soccer, Football.
After Egypt’s win over Australia in the 2026 World Cup, forward Hossam Hassan draped a Palestinian flag around his shoulders, dedicating the triumph to the Palestinian people and urging global support for their rights, a move that has sparked discussion about the intersection of sport and politics.
The United States has moved to block the Iranian men’s national soccer team from traveling to the United States for the World Cup, citing national‑security concerns, while the broader geopolitical implications unfold.
In a modest field in Passaic County, New Jersey, a soccer academy founded by Omar Abdulaziz offers Palestinian‑American children a place to heal, dream, and connect with a culture that spans continents.
In a modest New Jersey field, a soccer academy founded by Omar Abdulaziz offers Palestinian-American children a refuge from the trauma of conflict, while the admiration for Lamine Yamal’s activism amplifies their sense of identity and hope.
In a modest field in Passaic County, young Palestinian-Americans channel their grief and aspirations into soccer, inspired by a global star who waves a Palestinian flag.
In a modest field in Northern New Jersey, a group of Palestinian-American children train together, using soccer to process loss, celebrate identity, and imagine a future beyond the headlines of war.
In New Jersey, Palestinian‑American youths channel grief and hope into soccer, finding inspiration in a Spanish star’s activism and the work of their local academy.
In a modest soccer complex on the outskirts of Paterson, New Jersey, a group of children gathers each afternoon, their sneakers scuffing the artificial turf as laughter echoes across the field. Their coach, Omar Abdulaziz, founded the Palestino Soccer Academy three years ago to teach soccer within Palestinian culture and to give children a refuge from the trauma of conflict. The academy, anchored around the Palestinian-American community, welcomes kids of all backgrounds, offering them purpose, camaraderie, and a way to process the pain of a war that has ripped through Gaza.
A modest field in Woodland Park becomes a sanctuary where young Palestinian‑American athletes channel grief and aspiration into soccer, guided by coach Omar Abdulaziz and idol Lamine Yamal.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, shared by three nations, is increasingly defined by U.S. immigration restrictions, a heavily fortified border with Mexico, and FIFA’s entanglement with political figures, casting a shadow over the event’s promise of global unity.
The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that the upcoming clash with Israel will be relocated to a neutral site and staged without spectators, following a series of protest‑related incidents and broader security concerns.
The FIFA World Cup begins amid a complex reality for Palestinians, where soccer offers both escape and resistance.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, drawing the eyes of millions across the globe, and among the participants are several Arab nations — Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — whose presence adds a regional flavor to the tournament. For Palestinians living under occupation, the spectacle is more than distant excitement; it is a reminder of a national team that came within a whisker of qualification and a sport that has long served as both refuge and rallying point.
From children kicking balls behind barbed wire to displaced families training in stadium locker rooms, soccer offers a rare sense of normalcy and resilience for Palestinians watching the World Cup.
Israeli forces seized Natalie Abu Dayyeh, a Palestinian Christian student and national team midfielder, during a pre‑dawn operation near Birzeit University. Her detention, alongside three other women, has sparked condemnation from religious leaders, the Palestine Football Association and human‑rights advocates.
During a city council debate, councilor Shaun Harkin urged the Football Association of Ireland to withhold matches against Israel, comparing the issue to the anti‑apartheid sports boycott, while players brace for intensified protests.
Ireland’s coach Heimir Hallgrimsson denounced the use of tennis balls and banners during a match against Qatar, saying such actions ‘kill the game’, while the team prepares for upcoming fixtures against Israel.
A friendly victory over Qatar was eclipsed by a political demonstration on the pitch, prompting the Irish coach to condemn the stunt and outline the stakes of future matches against Israel.
Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson criticized fans for using tennis balls as a pro‑Palestinian protest during a match against Qatar, saying it 'kills the game' and urging focus on sport over politics.
Hallgrimsson’s rallying cry comes as protests erupt in Dublin and the FAI navigates diplomatic pressure from UEFA and public dissent over playing Israel.