Palestine has had a football team for years and the Palestine Football Association has been recognized by FIFA since 1998.  Yet, it has never played an international game on Palestinian soil, owing to the lack of an international stadium.  Since October, FIFA and the PFA have worked to renovate the stadium to bring it to international footballing standards.  The Faisal Husseini stadium was inaugurated by FIFA President Joseph Blatter who, earlier in the day, also kicked off the Palestinian women’s football league in Ramallah.  In a press conference earlier in the day, Blatter announced, “Football brings people together.”  Indeed…except if you are members of the Palestinian team barred from attending the game because you live in Gaza or except if you are among the 90 percent of Palestinians who could not attend the game because of Israel’s repugnant travel restrictions (the stadium is located in Al-Ram (behind the Wall) and Palestinians need Israeli-issued permits in order to be able to attend a football match).  

Despite this, the atmosphere was electric:  Palestinian songs (including my fave – the kuffiya song – were belted throughout the stadium); huge Palestinian flags were raised and we all got a chance to witness the beautiful game…

A 1-1 tie for those interested in the score, with Ahmad Kashkash (from Amari refugee camp) scoring the goal.