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

Amidst the global focus on the FIFA World Cup, war-torn Yemen is experiencing its own footballing miracle: the resumption of its National League. For the first time since 2014, professional football has returned to Yemen, providing a rare moment of unity and normalcy in a country ravaged by 12 years of civil war. Thousands gathered in a stadium in the ancient city of Sanaa to watch a match between two teams representing areas controlled by opposing factions.

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Everyone is happy and delighted to see Yemeni soccer back in action.

The truce signed in 2022 has seemingly held firm enough to allow this revival. Fans, adorned in colorful wigs and face paint, cheered and whistled as players from Wahda Sanaa, under Houthi control, competed against Shaab Hadramout, representing a region aligned with a separate coalition and separatists. This scene, once seemingly lost to the devastation of war, offers a semblance of normalcy to a population grappling with poverty and the threat of starvation.

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God willing, soccer is a message of peace for the Yemeni people.

"Everyone is happy and delighted to see Yemeni soccer back in action," said Mohammed Abu Ghalib, a player for Hilal Hudayda. "God willing, soccer is a message of peace for the Yemeni people." Sport journalist Mohammed al-Qasemi echoed this sentiment, noting the large crowds indicated a deep longing among Yemenis for positive aspects of life. "When you attend a match and see such large crowds, you see that the Yemeni people long for everything that is beautiful."

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When you attend a match and see such large crowds, you see that the Yemeni people long for everything that is beautiful.

Despite the return of the league, the scars of conflict are evident. Sports facilities across Sanaa bear significant damage, rendering many unusable. Tunisian commentator Issam Chaouali described the league's revival as a return not just to sport, but to the "pulse of life," offering hope and joy to patient fans. Nabih Naser, the Houthi government's deputy sports and youth minister, expressed ambitions to develop sports nationwide, but acknowledged the severe financial constraints. He hopes the league's success will attract private sector investment to rebuild facilities and nurture young talent across Yemen's numerous sports federations.

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