Gaza residents celebrate Spain's World Cup victory

Thousands of residents in the Gaza Strip assembled in public squares, streets and makeshift viewing areas to watch the FIFA World Cup final, turning the city’s limited open spaces into a collective arena for sport. Organizers set up large screens powered by generators amid intermittent electricity supplies, and local radio stations provided live commentary for those without visual access. While the match featured Argentina and France, a notable portion of the crowd expressed support for Spain, citing the European nation’s diplomatic stance on the Palestinian cause as a reason for their allegiance during the viewing event.

The gathering underscores the population’s yearning for moments of normalcy despite the ongoing humanitarian challenges in the enclave, where restrictions on movement, infrastructure damage and shortages of basic services persist. By combining a global sporting spectacle with political expression, the event highlighted both the unifying power of football and the continued resonance of international solidarity movements within Gaza.