As football supporters around the world follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a group of young women in Gaza are fighting a very different battle - rebuilding their lives through the sport they love after losing limbs during the war.
On a small artificial pitch in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, girls move across the turf on crutches, passing the ball and practising drills under the guidance of their coaches. For them, football is far more than a game. It offers a path back to normal life, renewed confidence and hope for the future.
The initiative comes as Gaza continues to grapple with the devastating consequences of the conflict. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, thousands of amputations have been recorded since the war began, leaving many survivors in need of long-term rehabilitation.
Among the players is 24-year-old Rozan Khaira, who lost a leg when an Israeli strike hit her family's home in Gaza City in November 2023.
"The bombing happened at night while my family was inside the house," she told Anadolu.
"I woke up to screams and explosions. When I tried to stand, I couldn't. I moved on one leg until I reached the living room, and there I realised my leg had been amputated."
Before the war, Khaira was an accomplished sprinter who won several medals. Sport had been a central part of her life since childhood, when she regularly accompanied her father to football grounds and took part in athletic competitions.
Rather than ending her ambitions, she said the injury strengthened her determination.
"Perhaps the occupation thought amputating my leg would stop me, but it gave me even greater motivation to prove that amputation is not the end of life or ambition," she said.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges she faced, Khaira refused to give up.
"An injury is not the end of a dream. It can open new doors," she added.
Today, she plays for a team linked to the Palestine Amputee Football Association, one of the first amputee football teams for girls in Palestine.
Her ambition is to compete internationally and raise the Palestinian flag on the global stage. Plans to participate in overseas tournaments this year were disrupted by the war and restrictions on movement.
"We hope to participate in international competitions next year and represent Palestine in an honourable way," she said.
The project is overseen by Aya Al-Othmani, who said it was created to support girls whose lives changed dramatically after suffering life-altering injuries.
She said the programme aims to provide psychological and social support while creating opportunities through sport. Regular training sessions help players improve their football skills, rebuild self-confidence and develop a sense of teamwork.
Al-Othmani hopes the initiative will help the players reach higher levels of competition and eventually open doors to international participation.
Their journey continues against the backdrop of major challenges facing Gaza's sporting community. Many stadiums, sports facilities and training centres have been damaged or destroyed, while travel restrictions have prevented athletes from attending competitions and training camps abroad.
Repeated displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions have made it even harder for sportspeople to continue their careers.
Yet for Khaira and her teammates, football remains a symbol of resilience and possibility.
While the World Cup unfolds thousands of miles away, they continue to train on a modest pitch in Gaza, determined to prove that losing a limb does not mean losing a future.
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