In New York’s ‘Little Palestine’, fans cheer for Spain in World Cup final

In Brooklyn's Bay Ridge neighbourhood, colloquially known as 'Little Palestine', the FIFA World Cup final has become a focal point for the Arab American community's political expression. Zein Rimawi, chair of the Arab American Federation, explained that his support for Spain over Argentina stems from the country's diplomatic recognition of Palestine in 2024 and its public criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza. He characterised the tournament itself as a 'political summit' rather than purely a sporting event, noting that fans in the community deliberately choose to support nations aligned with Palestinian causes.

The neighbourhood reflects this sentiment visibly. Palestinian symbols—including graffiti, keffiyeh patterns, and watermelon imagery—are prevalent throughout Bay Ridge, which functions as a diverse immigrant hub rather than an exclusively Palestinian enclave. Local businesses, from Palestinian restaurants to Yemeni cafes and Lebanese grocery stores, have displayed flags of participating teams, creating an atmosphere of heightened World Cup engagement.

Talal Abdraboh, who operates Al Reef Bakery on 5th Avenue, articulated a similar perspective. He highlighted Spain's historical Arab presence in Andalusia and its contemporary support for Palestinians as reasons the community gravitates toward the Spanish team. Abdraboh noted that Arab fans have consistently raised the Palestinian flag during matches involving Arab nations, viewing their sporting allegiances as an extension of their political identity.

The 2026 tournament saw record participation from Arab teams, with eight nations competing. Morocco advanced furthest, reaching the quarterfinals before elimination by France. Egypt progressed to the round of 16 but was eliminated following a controversial loss to Argentina, during which a goal was disallowed following a VAR review for what officials deemed a soft foul in the build-up play.