What Does the Celebration of the Nation for Egypt and Morocco's Qualification for the World Cup Mean?

Firstly, congratulations to the Arab Republic of Egypt "Mother of the World" and the great Arabs, the beating heart of Arabism, for its well-deserved victory and qualification to the Round of 16 at the expense of Australia in the World Cup, and God willing, may the winning and victorious spirits hover around the Egyptian and Moroccan teams, which qualified earlier, which are the remaining Arab teams in this global competition.

Egypt's victory ignited the emotions of the Palestinian people and all Arab nations from the Atlantic to the Gulf. The "fierceness" of the celebrations was heightened by the gift of Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan, who raised the Palestinian flag in celebration of the victory for the Palestinian Arab people, and his statements expressing his love for Palestine and how it is ingrained in the heart of every Egyptian and Arab from birth. This confirms the failure of all attempts by both non-Arabs and Arabs to uproot Palestine from the hearts of the Arab peoples. The increase in the intensity of the celebrations was further fueled by the Zionist reaction, which revealed the extent of the bitterness and anger entrenched in every Israeli's soul, evidenced by their bitter tweets and calls for incitement against the Egyptian team. They did not hide their shock and displeasure from the World Cup scene, and some began to question the validity of peace agreements with Egypt and other Arab countries as long as they are not accepted by the Arab peoples?!

Are these celebrations merely for the victory of Egypt and Morocco and their qualification, or is there something deeper in the consciousness of every Palestinian in particular, and Arab in general, spanning from the Atlantic to the Gulf?

There is no doubt that the relationship between sports and politics is close and historical, but it is no longer just a physical activity, especially in our current age; it has turned into a political tool used by peoples—especially those who are oppressed and resentful, or those burdened with dissatisfaction—to express what lies in the hearts of all Arabs that they cannot voice due to the torn Arab situation and the conditions experienced by Arab citizens coupled with the fear of political persecution due to the police states that govern the Arab world. Expressing joy in victory is merely a release for the frustration and repression weighing on the souls of the sons of the nation, embodying a sense of victory over an occupation state that is nothing but a cancer eroding the body of the nation, perpetrating violations that evoke humanity’s shame, committing crimes against our brothers in Palestine, Lebanon, and Yemen, and weaving conspiracies targeting the Arab homeland from its Atlantic to its Gulf. Meanwhile, the ruling regimes remain silent and do not do what is necessary to eradicate this cancer.

This celebration is a feeling—albeit as accessible as it can be—for the sons of the nation for a victory that has evaded them for more than a century and a half, when Arabs and Muslims had the final word in global politics. Perhaps—this celebration—is an indicator that the sons of the nation look forward to victories on the horizon, which could work towards eliminating this cancer, and perhaps uprooting it from the Arab body, ensuring the cessation of the brutal practices and crimes. Moreover, this celebration is an honest expression of the people’s thirst for solidarity and unity and the removal of the artificial borders between the sons of a nation bound by several ties, chief among them religion and language. This thirst represents a deeply rooted emotional pillar, nourished by the components of a shared identity such as language, history, and a common destiny. Despite political challenges and the absence of institutional integration, this desire continues to emerge in popular stances denouncing fragmentation and supporting central issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue, indicating that the collective Arab sentiment transcends the imaginary boundaries.

This celebration is the clearest proof that the Arab nation, no matter how its borders are torn, is still one nation, and that the boundaries imposed by Sykes-Picot to weaken and tame it will inevitably vanish. It is their right to rejoice together and to mourn together; a nation besieged by nations today, which still seeks to weaken it, tear apart the fragmented, and divide the united, by imposing borders that have led it to lag behind in everything and on all fronts, even making it lose confidence in itself. And here it is, today closer than ever and longing for its glorious past, desperately thirsty for victory, perhaps now, expressed through a game of football, but who knows? Perhaps it caresses the dream and sharpens the spirits, so the nation can reclaim its glory and civilization. The players from Morocco and Egypt prostrating in celebration of their victory is nothing but a revival of hope for the return of the nation to its former grandeur when it returns to its true identity and holds on to it with pride.