In a humanitarian gesture that resonated widely in the Arab world, Qatar national team captain Hassan Al-Haydos announced a personal initiative to support the Gaza Strip by funding the construction of a school and sports hall there. The plans coincided with Qatar’s celebration of its historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

The initiative, announced on his official social media accounts, carried a profound humanitarian message, emphasising that true joy is incomplete as long as there are those who suffer.

Sport is a message of life

Al-Haydos said in his widely shared post:

In moments of joy, it remains our responsibility to remember our brothers in Gaza, who are living in unbearable conditions.

I am donating funds for a school and a sports hall in the Strip, believing that education and sport are the path to a new life, and that the message of sport does not stop at the boundaries of the playing field.

With a few words and a practical gesture, he conveyed Qatar’s joy from the stands of the stadiums to the heart of the Palestinian tragedy, proving that a true athlete does not forget his humanity in the spotlight.

This latest initiative is based on two fundamental pillars that represent the essence of community advancement in Gaza.

He announced his support for the establishment of a school that represents a window of hope for children who have lost their seats in school due to aggression and siege, and embodies their right to knowledge and a dignified life.

On the sporting side, Al-Haydos will support the construction of a sports hall to send a message to the younger generation that life is not just about pain, but about movement and ambition, and that sport can be a language of resistance through hope.

Widespread Arab and international reaction

Al-Haddad’s initiative has been widely praised at the Arab and international levels. His name and the hashtag #AlHaydosForGaza trended on social media, with many considering him a true role model in a time of division and silence.

Prominent Arab sports figures – from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia – praised the move, calling for it to be turned into an Arab sports solidarity movement supporting Gaza in the fields of education, health and sport.

Activists online also described the initiative as ‘the most beautiful response to the machinery of destruction,’ considering that ‘the school and the sports hall represent the victory of life over death.’

From football star to humanitarian icon

Hassan Al-Haydos, 34, is one of Qatar’s most prominent football stars and captain of Al-Sadd Club and the national team.

He is known for his moral commitment and participation in numerous charitable events, but his latest initiative towards Gaza was particularly special, as it came at a moment of personal sporting triumph, but turned into a collective humanitarian stance.

With his actions and words, Al-Haydos has redefined the concept of ‘sports role model,’ presenting an example of an athlete who uses his fame to serve humanitarian values, not just to win titles.

And, many hope that his initiative could mark a turning point in the concept of Arab sporting solidarity.

Instead of merely making symbolic statements or wearing support badges, Arab stars – in football, the arts and culture – can adopt real projects in Palestine, targeting education, health, infrastructure and psychological support for children.

Humanitarian experts have proposed the creation of an Arab sports solidarity fund called ‘From the Stadiums to Gaza,’ which would be managed transparently and open to contributions from players, clubs, and sports institutions, with part of the proceeds going towards humanitarian reconstruction projects.

A call from Gaza to the world’s stadiums

Hassan Al-Haydous’ initiative is more than an individual humanitarian act; it is an open call to every Arab and foreign player to turn their stardom into a real force for change. When athletes use their fame to support education and build schools and stadiums, they not only raise the profile of their country, but also the humanity of sport itself.

Today, Gaza does not need fleeting sympathy, but rather initiatives that extend from the hearts of the playing fields to the fields of life — initiatives that rebuild what the war has destroyed and restore to children their dreams, suspended between rubble and deprivation.

From here, the Al-Haddad initiative can be a starting point for a global movement led by Arab and foreign sports stars, based on adopting humanitarian and development projects in Palestine, so that every goal scored on the pitch translates into a school, a playground, or a new life in Gaza.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

This post was originally published on Canary.