As World Cup fever swirls, war-torn Yemen gets its own football miracle

Thousands of miles from North America, where the FIFA World Cup is bringing together football fans from countries that are otherwise at odds, one of football’s least heralded nations is experiencing its own moment of unity.

In a stadium in the ancient city of Sanaa, hundreds have turned out to watch a match between two teams from areas controlled by different factions in Yemen’s 12-year-old civil war.

Since May, a truce signed in 2022 has seemed firm enough to allow a resumption of the professional Yemen National League for the first time since 2014.

Photos are taken and pennants are exchanged between the captains of Wahda Sanaa, whose city is under the control of the Houthi militia, and Shaab Hadramout, whose province is controlled by a regional coalition and separatists.

The referee starts the match. A Wahda Sanaa player grabs his head in frustration at missing a chance — and fans in garish wigs and face paint whistle their dismay.

Football brings semblance of normalcy to Yemen

It’s a scene that many had despaired of seeing again after years of war that have made one of the world’s poorest countries even poorer and left many in danger of starvation.

“Everyone is happy and delighted to see Yemeni soccer back in action,” said Mohammed Abu Ghalib, who plays for Hilal Hudayda, based in Yemen’s main port on the Red Sea, often the scene of heavy fighting. “God willing, soccer is a message of peace for the Yemeni people.”

Sport journalist Mohammed al-Qasemi was just as enthusiastic: When you attend a match and see such large crowds, you see that the Yemeni people long for everything that is beautiful.

There are constant reminders of the cost of fighting. Across Sanaa, sports facilities are badly damaged and unfit for use.

But Tunisian Issam Chaouali, one of the Arab world’s most popular commentators, said the revival of Yemeni soccer marked a return not only to the sport but also to the pulse of life. It will be a message of hope, a touch of life, and a joy that fans who have been patient and waited … deserve, he said.

Ghalib believes the re-establishment of the National League will inspire younger players and greatly benefit the national team.

Nabih Naser, the Houthi government’s deputy sports and youth minister, sitting in an office decorated with trophies, has ambitious plans to develop sport and train young talent.

He would like to build new facilities in all provinces, but money is short, and he hopes that the success of competitions such as the revived soccer league will encourage the private sector to step in.

“We need to develop Yemeni sports (across) all federations,” he says. “More than 30 federations, including soccer.”