Scenes from FIFA CWC 2025 : Handala and Ultras Ahlaway are here to stay

If you're looking for a brief escape from the region's heavy news cycle, especially if you're a football fan, this one's for you.

Two weeks ago, the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) kicked off in the United States — the country that famously refers to the world’s most popular sport as "soccer."

As expected — mashallah — Egypt’s Al-Ahly SC proudly qualified for the tournament once again. This marks the club’s ninth appearance in the CWC, making Al-Ahly the most qualified team in the tournament’s history outside of Europe and South America. 

Cairo’s Red Castle continues to make its mark on the global stage.

Sadly, Al-Ahly’s 2025 campaign came to an end after a dramatic draw with Portugal’s FC Porto at New Jersey’s iconic MetLife Stadium. Despite the electric atmosphere and a performance that fans will remember for years, the draw wasn’t enough to push them through to the next round. 

As Egyptians and Al-Ahly fans, we’ve exited the tournament — but some images and scenes from this edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will stay with me forever.

One of them is Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, making history in a way that transcends sport. In the unforgettable match against FC Porto, Abou Ali scored three goals — a true football “hat trick.” It was his night, and his name is now etched in the record books.

He became the first Palestinian player ever to score a hat-trick in a global tournament of this scale — a milestone not just for himself, but for Palestinian football. And to mark this powerful moment, Abou Ali celebrated in the spirit of Handala, the symbol of Palestinian resilience.

He was rightly named Man of the Match. It was well earned.

FIFA typically highlights and celebrates players who score historic firsts — especially hat tricks — in their official social media channels. But strangely, Wessam Abou Ali has received no such recognition from FIFA, and no official explanation has been offered.

Abou Ali plays for the Palestinian national team. 

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) is a recognised member of FIFA. So, by all official standards, FIFA acknowledges Palestine — and its football.

Moroccan-Spanish sports journalist Leyla Hamed believes the omission was deliberate, noting that FIFA usually celebrates every “first goal” and acknowledges players’ heritage. Hamed questions whether this has anything to do with the fact that FIFA’s current social media manager, British national Jessica Furness, is an open supporter of Israel.

Wessam Abou Ali scored a perfect hat-trick for Al Ahly.
The first ever by a Palestinian in a FIFA tournament.@FIFAcom, who celebrates every “first goal” and players’ heritage, said nothing.
Does that have anything to do with their openly pro-Israel social media manager? pic.twitter.com/nuPVfDX6GT

— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) June 26, 2025

We haven’t received any direct answer or justification, but one can’t help but wonder and connect the dots.

It must be noted that since October 2023, at least 438 Palestinian footballers—current, former, and junior—have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). These deaths are part of a broader toll that includes at least 900 Palestinian athletes.

In May 2024, the PFA submitted a formal request to FIFA, calling for the suspension of the Israeli Football Association (IFA), which it accuses of violating FIFA regulations due to its connection to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

That formal request was met with global support from football fans, as well as former football legends such as Eric Cantona and Gary Lineker, who lost his job at the BBC as a consequence of his support for Gaza.

FIFA has delayed its decision on whether to sanction Israel three times in 2024. More than a year later, two FIFA committees are still reviewing the complaints—one focusing on alleged discrimination by the IFA, and the other examining the participation of Israeli football clubs based in illegal settlements within the occupied Palestinian territory.

According to Middle East Eye, a group of legal experts—including two former UN special rapporteurs—has informed FIFA that Israel and its football association are violating international law by organizing professional football matches on occupied Palestinian land.

The second standout moment for me — captured in several photos — was the overwhelming presence of Al-Ahly fans from the Egyptian community in the United States. In all three matches we played, Al-Ahly supporters filled the stadiums, turning them completely red.

It really makes you reflect on the size and strength of the Egyptian diaspora in the U.S., and just how deeply connected they remain to their homeland. Al-Ahly once again proved itself to be the biggest club in Africa, the Arab world, and the broader Middle East — not just through trophies, but through unmatched fan loyalty.

Even the Saudi football fans seemed surprised by the sheer size and passion of the crowd.

Now, among the photos of our red fans in the American football stadiums, a photo that showed a banner with the one and only signature of the famous Al-Ahly Ultras fan group, Ultras Ahlaway (UA07). 

Why is it interesting? UA07 officially announced its self-dissolution in May 2018. During then the group said it dissolved itself because it wanted to “End the regime’s obsession with chasing and arresting youth for merely supporting their team.”

When I asked online, I was told that the group had only announced its dissolution within Egypt, but its chapters abroad remain active.

Seeing a new generation keeping the spirit of this group alive felt like a small but meaningful victory. Veteran journalists who covered the January 25 Revolution know well the role it played in those early, volatile days — and the price its members, along with their traditional rivals, the Ultras White Knights of Zamalek FC, had to pay.

This was never just about football. The UA07 reminded us of their political consciousness, even in the United States. One of their tifos during the tournament carried a striking message, standing as the only African representative in the group stage:

"Her treasures plundered since the dawn of time — the world's relentless, undisputed desire."
{ChatGPT's lyrical translation}

FYI, there is another tefo representing the historical ancient treasures, as well as minerals stolen from the continent. 

The presence of UA07 truly made a difference. We've missed that spirit in our Egyptian stadiums. FYI, the UA07 boys in the States showed this banner, "Freedom to the fans" 

I’ll wrap up this post with some wild photos: Al-Ahly SC’s defender Yasser Ibrahim squaring off with none other than Lionel Messi on the pitch! Yes — Messi headbutted Ibrahim, and somehow, he got away with it.

For me, it was hands down the craziest moment of the entire tournament.

What stood out, too, was how the younger generation is no longer starstruck by Messi — they see him as just another opponent.

Also, as someone who watched the game between Al-Ahly and Inter Miami, I was genuinely surprised by the level of aggression shown by Inter Miami. You don’t see that kind of violence on the pitch in Europe or Africa.

Till the next Club World Cup, inshallah.

And by the way — this whole idea of expanding the tournament? A complete fiasco. It was more enjoyable — and made more sense — when it involved fewer clubs.