In New York’s Astoria neighbourhood, Arab nations unite in World Cup joy
Historic World Cup match wins for Egypt, Morocco and Algeria brings together fans from the Middle Eastern diaspora. New York – As the sun began
Historic World Cup match wins for Egypt, Morocco and Algeria brings together fans from the Middle Eastern diaspora. New York – As the sun began to set on a warm Wednesday evening in New York, the Moroccan darija chant of “Sir! Sir! Sir!” – “Go! Go! Go!” – blared out of cafes and onto the streets in Astoria, a diverse ethnic hub in the Queens borough of the city. Astoria has long been a major hub for one of the most established Arab communities in New York City. Shortly after 8pm local time (00:00 GMT), celebrations erupted as fans carrying Morocco’s flag took over the iconic Steinway Street after the North African country defeated Haiti 4-2 to enter the knockout stage of the World Cup for the second successive edition. Two days earlier, it was Egypt who secured their first-ever win in the World Cup as they overcame New Zealand 3-1, transforming the heart of Queens’ Arab-American enclave into a sea of fans draped in Egyptian flags, chanting “Masr! Masr! Masr!” – the Arabic word for Egypt. And on Monday, sandwiched between the two African wins, was an all-Arab affair as Algeria took on tournament debutants Jordan in Group J. Fans of both countries packed cafes and pavements to follow the action together. It was the Algerian fans who had a reason to celebrate, as their team sealed a dramatic 2-1 comeback win against Jordan, adding their flavour to a weekend-long celebration of Arab football across Astoria.
For some locals of the community, it was an apt nod to the New York borough, which is home to a large North African diaspora. “I watched the Qatar 2022 World Cup in Morocco, and it’s just insane how the vibes are so similar [here],” Mouaouia, who is an undergraduate student at Barnard College, reminisced. “Everyone is in their jersey and raising the Moroccan flag. It’s not just Moroccans but people from other Arab and African countries.” Generations of Arab-American New Yorkers have lived around Steinway Street, a bustling 4km (2.4 miles) strip known for its cafes, bakeries, shops and hookah lounges adorned with flags from Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. Expression of national pride On a typical summer day, Steinway Street is abuzz with the sound of passing cars and families weaving between storefronts and late-night eateries. During the World Cup, car horns blare after every goal, and crowds celebrate long after midnight, singing and clapping as fireworks light up the sky. Inside Midnight Astoria, a local hookah lounge, Algeria fans watched the match through plumes of smoke that fogged the large screens. With the sounds of the crowd inside the venue mixing with the on-field action, the lounge transformed into a mini stadium where fans supporting opposing teams were united by a shared pan-Arab identity and culture. It was a sense of solidarity that extended beyond national allegiances. In the middle of post-match celebrations, a jubilant fan, chanting alongside Algerian supporters, described a broader feeling of unity across the Arab diaspora.
The BriefWire