In the Bay Ridge neighborhood of New York, known as “Little Palestine,” football fans have shown strong support for Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Zein Rimawi, a 72-year-old resident, said, “You don’t need to finish the question,” when asked about his pick for the final, indicating his clear preference for Spain.

Rimawi, sitting in his office with a Palestinian flag behind him, emphasized that football cannot be separated from politics. The tournament saw a record eight Arab teams participate, with Morocco advancing the furthest before losing to France in the quarterfinals. Egypt reached the round of 16 but was eliminated after controversial refereeing decisions in their match against Argentina.

Karim Bouzeraa, a 24-year-old barber in Bay Ridge, expressed disapproval of Israeli flags being associated with Argentinian football, stating, "the Israeli flags do not represent Argentinian football."

Kasem, another local figure, highlighted the politicization of football by FIFA, criticizing the organization for awarding US President Donald Trump its inaugural Peace Prize and for suspending Russia over the Ukraine invasion while not banning Israel amid allegations of genocide in Gaza. Kasem also recounted how he persuaded police officers to drop complaints about his show partially closing a street, referencing the citywide celebrations following the New York Knicks' NBA championship win.

The World Cup has become a platform reflecting both sporting passion and political expression within Brooklyn's sizeable Arab American community.

Sources