BEIRUT, July 3 — Long before kickoff, 22-year-old Hassan Abu al-Ezz moves between rows of wooden benches beneath the pine trees in the southern Lebanese village of Kfeir, making final preparations around a giant screen set up for World Cup matches.
As dusk falls, families begin arriving one after another. Before long, every seat is taken. Latecomers stand along the edges of the venue or watch from inside their cars, determined not to miss the action. “Before every major match, the place fills up completely,” Abu al-Ezz told Xinhua. “Some people end up watching from the sidelines or from their vehicles because there simply aren’t enough seats.” The nightly gatherings mark a noticeable change in southern Lebanon, where months of war and lingering economic hardship had sharply reduced public activity. Since the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, football has drawn residents back to cafes, village squares and public spaces, creating rare opportunities for communities to reconnect. The pine forest in Kfeir, transformed by the municipality into an open-air viewing area with a giant screen and seating, has become one of the district’s busiest gathering spots during the tournament. Families from neighboring villages join local residents each evening, turning the quiet woodland into a lively meeting place.
Similar scenes have unfolded across southern Lebanon, where municipalities, sports clubs and cultural associations have installed giant screens in public squares and open spaces to encourage communal viewing. “The turnout has exceeded our expectations,” sports activist Thaer Abdullah told Xinhua. “These venues have become gathering places where people of all ages come together every night.” The renewed public activity has also benefited local businesses.
In the southern village of Mimas, cafe owner Sari Abu al-Ezz said most matches are played late at night because of the time difference with the tournament’s host countries, prompting many cafes to extend their business hours. “The cafe is usually full well before kickoff,” he said. “On busy nights, some customers have to watch while standing or from outside because there are no seats left.” He said the tournament has not only boosted business but also revived social interaction among residents from neighboring villages.
Sports retailer Bassel Hamdan in Hasbaya has experienced a similar surge in demand. After importing large quantities of flags and jerseys from China before the tournament began, he was surprised by how quickly they sold out. “I didn’t expect demand to be this strong,” he told Xinhua. For many young Lebanese, however, the World Cup has become about more than football. University student Rodina Abu Ali said the matches have created a daily opportunity to spend time with relatives and friends away from the pressures of everyday life.
Another student, Tarek Abu Ismail, said watching the tournament offers “a temporary sense of normal life” amid ongoing challenges. Samra Abu Ghaida said the event has helped bring people together again, giving communities moments of shared enjoyment. The celebrations often continue after the final whistle. Across many towns and villages, convoys of cars and motorcycles carrying the flags of winning teams drive through the streets accompanied by Lebanese dabke music, folk songs and car horns.
According to psychologist and university lecturer Raghed Jaber, such sporting events can play an important role in communities recovering from conflict. “Major sporting events provide an important psychological outlet,” he told Xinhua. “They help reduce stress, strengthen people’s sense of belonging and rebuild social ties, even if only temporarily.” Back in Kfeir, another late-night match comes to an end. Small groups of supporters remain beneath the pine trees discussing the result as volunteers begin arranging the chairs for the following evening.
With the tournament continuing until July 19, Abu al-Ezz expects the crowds to return again the next night, extending a nightly routine that has transformed the village’s pine forest into one of southern Lebanon’s busiest gathering places this summer.
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