Hundreds of football fans gathered around giant screens in Gaza on Sunday, standing amid the rubble of their bombed-out homes to watch Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final. They cheered for the Spanish team because of Spain's support for the enclave during the conflict with Israel. “We came together to support Spain because it has stood by the Palestinian people for years,” said Numan Abdullah, a Gaza resident who watched the match. “We are a people who seek peace,” he added.
The final itself was a triumph of patience and control. Spain, who had only one goal against them in their eight matches, dominated from start to finish. Argentina failed to register a single attempt on goal until the 115th minute, and their task became harder when Enzo Fernández was sent off towards the end of regulation time. The winning goal came in the 106th minute: Pedro Porro crossed deep, substitute Nico Williams headed back, and another replacement, Ferran Torres, fired high into the net.
“Hundreds of Gaza fans cheered Spain's World Cup win amid rubble as aid worker who organised screenings died in airstrike.”
As Torres celebrated, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni looked ready to cry. Lionel Messi, who had won the World Cup in 2022 and three consecutive tournaments since, could not suppress his tears as he gazed at the Argentina support. There was an ugly flashpoint after full time when substitute Leandro Paredes was given a red card.
For Spain, it was a second World Cup title, emulating the legendary 2010 generation. “A date with history and we got there first,” said manager Luis de la Fuente, whose team had stayed true to their identity. Rodri, Spain’s captain and player of the tournament, lifted the trophy amid delirium.
The screenings in Gaza, organised by aid workers to raise morale especially among young children, offered a welcome respite from daily hardships. Tragically, Mohammed al-Wahidi, the 65-year-old aid worker who helped set them up, died in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month. Al-Wahidi was an English teacher before the war and became a senior official with the Egyptian Relief Committee, preferring to remain in the field. As of late April, the UN had recorded the killing of at least 593 aid workers since the war began, including eight since the ceasefire 10 months ago. At least 73,118 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.