At the Arab Cup 2025, held this year in Qatar, the echo of football fans is not as loud as the echo of humanitarian concerns. In stark contrast to international football tournaments hosted in the West, coaches in the Arab Cup have already made it clear how Palestine is held closely in everyone’s hearts. In doing so, the tournament has already demonstrated a commonality with Arabs across the region.

Arab Cup focus on Palestine

Abdullah Abu Zema, both native and former coach of Jordan, sat in front of the waiting cameras with his usual simplicity. But, something in his tone of voice seemed different. When the presenter of Alkass Sports asked him which team he would have chosen if he had not played for Jordan, he did not hesitate, did not look back, and said:

I would have chosen Palestine.

It was not just a sporting statement; it was a voice for two peoples who were not separated by a border or a concrete wall.

When asked what he would change if he had a magic wand, he did not think of himself or his own interests, but of the wound that had been growing for decades:

I would choose to liberate Palestine.

His words were heartfelt, and the sentiment was as though he had placed his hand on the heart of the entire nation.

Red card for Zionism

In another interview on the same programme, the great Moroccan Hussein Ammouta, known to Arab stadiums and hearts, sat down. He could have said that his wish was to win a championship, or to make a sports project a success, or even to achieve personal glory. Instead, he chose something greater than his name, something that satisfied his conscience.

Joining Abu Zema, Ammouta said:

If I had a magic wand, I would end the wars and bring victory to Palestine.

Then he added a sentence that alone sums up the story of Arab anger:

And if I had a red card, I would raise it in the face of the Zionist entity.

The card Ammouta referred to was not just a piece of paper. It was a sporting cry against an occupation that has crossed all boundaries. It was a red card issued by a coach who knows that sport is not a neutral playing field when it comes to human beings and justice.

That night, the focus was not on the game of  football, but the Arab heart speaking without fear, without hesitation, without calculation. These statements reminded the public that sport is not just about competition and goals, but also a platform that is powerful when many from Western football are silent, and a voice when other voices are absent.

Between a Jordanian coach and a Moroccan coach, a rare Arab moment was born, a moment when sport said what the news bulletins refused to say.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

This post was originally published on Canary.