Article by Viory
Football Beyond War
Women amputees in Gaza have returned to the football pitch in Deir al-Balah, training on crutches as the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Footage shows the players on a small field in the central Gaza Strip, passing, shooting and pushing through fitness drills.
For injured player Rozan Khairu, the sessions offer a rare escape from the war.
“When I come to the field, my spirit comes back to me—literally. During the hour and a half of training, I forget the war, the pain, and even the injury,” she said.
“I watch World Cup matches with my family, and I support the Brazil national team. I always wished to watch World Cup matches from the stadium in person, and we hope to attend in the coming years,” she added.
Fouad Abu Ghalioun, founder of the Palestine Amputee Football Association, said the players hope to represent Palestine on the international stage.
“These matters greatly to us because we are sending a message to the world that the Palestinian people are capable of playing sports and living a normal life if the political conditions around them are normal,” he said.
Impact On Sports
The war has also torn through Gaza’s sporting community.
According to a Palestinian Football Association report issued on March 2, 1,007 members of federations, clubs, and youth and scouting institutions were killed between October 7, 2023, and February 12, 2026.
The report also said 265 sports facilities, stadiums, halls, and administrative headquarters had been damaged, with 184 destroyed and 81 partially damaged.
Article by Viory
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