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In Al-Zawayda, about three kilometres northeast of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, dozens of people followed the opening match between Mexico and South Africa from a makeshift coffee tent despite frequent power cuts.
In Khan Younis, displaced families watched the tournament on television screens set up in temporary shelters, remaining gathered long into the evening.
For many Palestinians, football remains one of the few widely accessible forms of entertainment and a source of collective escape. Supporters said the World Cup brought back memories of previous tournaments, when families and friends gathered at home to watch matches together before the war disrupted everyday life.
