In Paterson, New Jersey, the Palestino Soccer Academy offers a space for Palestinian-American children to engage in soccer.
The club, founded three years ago by coach Omar Abdulaziz, aims to address the emotional impact of the Gaza conflict on the children. Abdulaziz stated that the sport provides a moment of disconnection from the suffering of reality.
According to Palestinian officials, 90% of Gaza's sports infrastructure has been destroyed, and 450 individuals involved in sports have been killed in Israeli attacks. The Palestinian national team did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Players in New Jersey look up to FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who waved a Palestinian flag during a championship parade.
Obaida Al Amleh, 14, born in the West Bank, said five of his close family friends were killed in an Israeli airstrike. He and teammates used soccer to process the news by playing for hours.