As dusk fell over Astoria, the multi-ethnic neighborhood in Queens, New York, shouts of “Sir! Sir! Sir!” in Moroccan dialect echoed from cafes into the streets. The area has long been a hub for the city's largest Arab community.
On June 20, fans waving Moroccan flags poured onto Steinway Avenue after a 4-2 victory over Haiti, sending the North African team into the World Cup knockout stage for the second consecutive time. Earlier, Egypt secured its first ever World Cup win by defeating New Zealand 3-1, turning the neighborhood into a sea of red, white, and blue flags. Between the two matches, Algeria also delivered drama with a 2-1 comeback against Jordan, bringing joy to North African supporters.
“I watched the 2022 World Cup in Morocco, and it's crazy how the atmosphere here feels exactly the same,” said Mouaouia, a student at Barnard College. “Everyone is wearing jerseys and waving Moroccan flags. It's not just Moroccans—people from other Arab and African countries are joining in.”
The four-kilometer-long Steinway Avenue is home to generations of Arab Americans, with cafes, bakeries, shops, and shisha lounges decorated with flags of Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine. On World Cup days, car horns blare after every goal, crowds sing and clap, and fireworks light up the sky.
At the Midnight Astoria lounge, Algerian fans watched the match through thick smoke. An Iraqi man, whose team had earlier lost to France, said cheerfully, “I'm from Iraq, my team lost, but I'll support every Arab team.”
For the Arab community in the U.S., the World Cup is not just a source of national pride—it's also a way to connect with home amid tightening immigration policies. Kareem, an Egyptian fan, set up a TV outside his parents' store so everyone could watch together: “You feel like you're home, in Cairo or Alexandria, right here in New York City.”
The sense of unity spread to other areas. In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Zahid Zakaria (from Mauritius) and Leyla Hadi (from Pakistan) watched the Morocco-Haiti match together. “The best part is that people who were once told they don't belong here are coming together and immersing themselves,” Leyla said.
Back in Queens, Rayhana observed, “The biggest lesson is that football is always a sport that connects people, and it's fulfilling that mission. There is so much division within the Arab community, but it's beautiful to see we can still gather to celebrate this victory.”
