Gaza Soccer Player Who Dreamed of Competing in World Cup Can Now Barely Watch It

Mohammed Khaled Afana suffered a life-changing injury while attempting to obtain flour from an aid distribution point.

By  Ohood Nassar, Truthout

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America, millions of soccer fans around the world are gathering in stadiums, homes, and cafés to watch the tournament. In Gaza, however, where war and its aftermath continue to shape daily life, the World Cup feels distant for many residents. Some are unable to watch matches due to electricity and internet outages, while others have lost the ability to play the game they once loved because of war-related injuries.

Among them is 19-year-old Mohammed Khaled Afana from Jabalia in northern Gaza. Before the war, he was a soccer (“football”) player for Khadamat Jabalia Club and spent much of his time training and following local and international matches.

On July 20, 2025, Afana suffered a life-changing injury while attempting to obtain flour from an aid distribution point in the Netzarim area. According to his account, he was shot by a quadcopter drone, leaving him with partial paralysis and severe spinal cord damage. The injury abruptly ended his soccer career and transformed every aspect of his life.

“My greatest dream was to become a professional football player,” Afana said. “My entire life revolved around football. It was more than just a game to me. Football was my life.”

Before his injury, Afana spent long hours training with his club and dreamed of one day representing Palestine in international competitions. He still remembers hearing the cheers of supporters during local matches.

“When I heard the fans chanting from the stands, it gave me energy and motivation to perform my best on the field,” he said.

Before the outbreak of war in October 2023, soccer was one of Gaza’s most popular activities. Local league matches regularly attracted large crowds, and residents eagerly anticipated major international tournaments, especially the FIFA World Cup.

Mohammed Siam, media officer for the Palestinian Football Association in Gaza, said approximately 3,300 players were officially registered with the association before the war.

He added that more than 500 soccer matches were held annually during each sporting season across Gaza’s major stadiums, drawing hundreds of spectators who filled the stands to support their favorite clubs and players.

“The stadiums were packed with fans,” Siam said. “Football provided an important space for recreation, competition, and community life in Gaza.”

During previous World Cups, cafés throughout Gaza became gathering places where soccer fans watched matches together and discussed the results late into the night.