Original subtitles

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar was kicked off with an opening ceremony,

hosted by Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor city despite a barrage of criticism.

Qatar lost the opener 0-2 to Ecuador,

being the first-ever host team to lose an opening on its grounds.

Meanwhile, our national team played a friendly game against Venezuela,

which ended 2-1 for the Venezuelan Team.

C'mon Yousef, pass it.

Let's see who'll win!

Laith, It's enough!

It's enough.

I've been a huge soccer fan ever since childhood,

conditions were challenging back then, we couldn't play like our kids do now.

I prayed to god for a gifted child, and he blessed me with Karam.

He's very talented and spends a lot of time with the ball.

My start was with Al-Jalaa' club, my dad coached me,

then he took me to the Al-Muhafaza club,

where I played for a year and a half while also practicing at Uptown Academy.

A year later, we went for a championship in Qatar.

We played five games and won the final, we scored 2-1 against Lebanon.

I also played in 5 local leagues with Al-Muhafaza winning only one.

I've been coaching him for 4 years both at home and at the club,

I always teach him some tricks,

I use pillows at home and make him dribble around them,

even though it's a narrow space.

I wouldn't let him miss any chance to practice.

Turn right,

Pass it, Good job.

C'mon.

Great.

One more time.

I'll put a carpet here all over the wall.

Marcos, I need you here!

Theoretically, it's not a difficult game,

we can say that it's not traditional World Cup,

and it's not a strong country at football.

But, football is football.

I remember when Argentina suffered to win 1-0 to Iran in the World Cup,

and it was like an individual game for Messi to score one goal against Iran.

So, you never know

but expectations should be that it's not a difficult game.

That's it, if we can enjoy at least five to four goals.

I support Argentina because we're Latin,

and we always support Latin countries

For example, the countries that we believe are in the process of developing football

Like, I supported Senegal yesterday,

I support Wales.

So, between any Latin, African, or Anglo-Saxonian country,

We're Latinos.

It means, we swear we will die with glory.

We swear we'll die with glory.

"We do feel happy because we're playing in the World Cup,"

"A long ball to the right wing,"

"C'mon Saudi, he is running, you scored the first, why not the second?"

"What a miss!"

- What is this? - C'mon, no goal!

"It's a goal!"

"the ball goes to the line,"

Argentina has a historical record of not losing,

they didn't lose for many games.

They can't come to the World Cup and lose to Saudi Arabia

How do you see they will play with France?

Maybe we will not see them,

this is the bad part, we will not see them playing with France.

We chose Syria following the main principle of ISAT,

the social and sports development.

We did some research and knew that football here is very famous,

there's a lot of passion for football in this country,

also, Brazilians and Argentinians are welcome.

It was a big challenge and objective to come here and see what's happening.

For the World Cup,

England is such a tough team I think they'll make it to the finals

Spain too, they're all young, they have a strong chance of winning,

they haven't played yet, they have a game today.

Either Brazil or France.

Argentina.

Many teams lose in their first match,

Spain did that and won the World Cup back in 2010.

Now Argentina has lost its first and will bring home the cup.

The match is fun, but I'm not a big fan of soccer,

I don't like sports with many players.

I don't like violent sports either, like boxing or wrestling.

I prefer solo sports like gymnastics,

It's fun, it strengthens the body and it's quite artistic.

I support France, but Arab teams come first.

Our Arab-hood necessitates supporting Arab teams over foreign ones.

Syria was among the elite Arab teams,

then professionality took place,

As you know, keeping a professional requires a good financial status,

and an elitist mindset.

We have this mindset, it's the finances that we lack.

Take foreign coaches for example,

they're fired as soon as the playoffs end claims are that "they did nothing".

Well, why don't we get the team in shape and develop them?

a development training workshop was announced by the AFC earlier,

one significant factor for a good team,

is having a professional development manager.

Ours are the worst, they're hired through cronyism.

How can we blame the coach, the player, the weather, or the referee?

While it's a matter with the Syrian Sports Federation.

Why don't they set the vision and let the next board members follow up with it?

"Upamecano to Konaté..."

"He makes it through..."

"Cross pass into the box to Kingsley"

"Coman, Coman to Griezmann and Mbappé scores!"

"A headshot from Mbappé makes it through!"

Argentina! Argentina!

Messi! Messi!

We want Messi to win and qualify.

I hope we make it through this game

and get to see Messi winning.

I hope that Messi wins and teases Christiano Ronaldo,

because he did that to Messi earlier,

we were sad to see Messi's tears.

We also want Syria to qualify and not remain as it is now.

Receive the ball.

Now the next player.

C'mon now... One

Get up... Prepare for the next,

two.

Careful not to break the rope kid, not too hard.

With the ball now.

Technically, it's difficult because Syrian football has been...

in some way...

Passing to the defense then shooting to the winger,

and the winger passing to someone to shoot on the goal.

So, to build a ball possession is very difficult

For example, our formation for the last twenty years was 3-5-2,

but in some way after twenty years, we have to change the formation,

the players weren't able to understand,

because of what I said earlier.

Syrian football is about attacking and going further,

and the two wingers attack and never go back to defend.

So, we have to adapt,

then we changed the formation to 4-5-1.

We are a football program to bring development not a charitable organization.

We can't fund a program that is not giving anything back to us

I used to work in international schools in Kanpur, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

We use football to reach for the kids,

and help them in their mental health, character building,

coping with stress, trauma release,

empathy, and problem solving.

- Look out for the car! - Move away, kids!

- I support Brazil. - Yes, me too.

- We're all for Brazil - Except me

I have my own set of practices before the match I dissociate completely,

I prepare for the game as if I was a player,

I get so nervous and cancel all my plans, even work-related ones.

This is my first World Cup where I'm employed,

but still, I canceled all my plans for this month.

The World Cup is the World Cup

"A win for Spain,"

"and a frustrating loss for German fans"

"An unprecedented time for Germany"

"This is the first time in World Cup history,"

"that we see such poor performance from the German team"

"Bye-bye Germany,"

"It's the second time the team get out from the groups' stage"

"it's a catastrophe"

The 2022 World Cup group stage has ended

with no team scoring a full mark,

to be the first time since the 1994 World Cup.

I started doing sports at a young age, I practice on my town's streets.

People weren't really "thumbs-up" at first,

or let's say they were a bit appalled.

Years went by and they grew more accepting,

they began to notice my absence when I don't pass by,

and ask about my progress

They grew much more encouraging

Argentina matches in particular are quite captivating,

Brazil as well,

so if they play at the same time, or when they play against each other,

it's common for people to clock off to enjoy the game.

"He might turn the tables here,"

"The defense has the ball, it goes to Messi"

"Leo moves forward and goes through"

"difficult angle and he scores!"

"Scaloni, you should know that in football"

"one could slip his way out of a match with some tactics,"

"yet with such a performance you won't get past the Netherlands."

"On the nerves... and he slots in the second!"

Why is the entire town supporting Argentina?

It's mainly their love for Maradona,

along with their adoration of Ché Guevara,

also, many locals immigrated to Argentina,

before Syria gained the independence, many traveled there,

many Syrians I mean.

Talent-wise, Messi might even be better than Maradona,

but no player will ever beat Maradona's charismatic presence.

Maradona is the revolution, he represents the poor,

class struggles against Americans and Japanese,

he's an extraordinary phenomenon.

Three more, Karam.

Karam started at a young age,

his parents kept an eye on his talent,

this helped him push through the difficult situation in the country.

he's very talented and he loves football.

Players at this age must keep the ball around all the time,

bonding with the ball is what football is all about,

We're working on that despite the limitations of the ongoing situation,

a situation that poses a challenge for aspiring young players.

Move it.

Hadi, Offside!

The keeper stepped backward you moved toward him, crossed the penalty area,

you're doing the opposite of what I told you!

- It's for us, sir! - Fuck it!

This is the practice,

four weeks practicing on the ball rebound,

do you know why the first thing you did when we came to the game was the ball rebound?

Because, believe it or not, muscles have memory,

whatever you practice it to do is kept in its memory,

when you came to the game the first reaction was the ball rebound.

Alright boys the problem is, sit down, Abu Bakr!

the problem is that you're deciding what to do the moment you receive the ball,

this allows the opponent to steal the ball and make it through.

Be aware of your surroundings, vision is essential, look around!

Move it, Karam! Deliver the ball!

C'mon Ali!

- Good job! C'mon, Ali - Go, Hadi, 1 on 1

- Go back, your coach is handling it. -Stay out of this Majd.

Please, Please!

Do you want us to give the game and go home?

It's not a monkies game!

Our players are Syrian, why are they treated like this?

Please go back to your spot, Captain

I went to Qatar for 7 days, it's nothing like Syria,

very organized, and the fields are so vast.

The buildings and roads are well-ordered.

We wanted to stay there but we couldn't.

Little regard is given here.

A boy I know went away and then played for a club in Germany,

he said everything is different there,

they provide for the player and they pay them well.

We don't even have enough balls here.

I know many coaches who only get paid 150,000 SYP a month,

they live in distant places and this barely covers transportation, it's not enough.

They come and do their job,

but their mind is somewhere else, they're overwhelmed.

Many young players don't come to training because they can't afford transportation,

poor kids aren't getting paid for transportation or buying proper boots,

these can be a bit expensive for parents,

not even jerseys or sportswear, nothing really.

Kids this age are the hope of our national team they shouldn't be left out like that.

"Until other words are said,"

"until another description is set and we reflect on the identity..."

He's with Croatia

Who?

He supports Croatia

- I support Japan, - "Are you an old fan or what?"

No, originally I support Brazil but I love watching a good performance.

Great performance, they might make it to the semi-finals.

Hopes are high for Morocco since day one.

The second half lacked shots on target from both sides, they're going for extra time.

My guess is a goal for each side then they're going for penalty kicks.

I hope Morocco wins

Morocco! Morocco!

I always knew I wouldn't remain a local referee,

I aspired to become a FIFA referee.

I refereed many games and became among the AFC elites.

Around the world, football has always been a male-dominated game,

females undergo extra pressure in our conservative societies.

People aren't used to seeing a girl on a pitch with 22 male players,

though masculine domination is less nowadays,

it is still a game for men, it requires physical strength and rough contact.

Sometimes the game is too rough for a male referee.

On my first match as a referee for the men's league,

it was no different than any other match, the same objections,

the same physical contact, heard the same objections from staff,

and the same chants that use all kinds of language.

We will always undergo difficulties,

but for me, I only view myself as a referee.

A World Cup without Italy is meaningless I'm currently supporting Argentina.

People's general knowledge of sports isn't as vast,?

people don't know much about the players' backgrounds,

that's why they're all with Morocco an Arab team? Okay they're in

Most of these players weren't raised in Morocco,

they were born either in France or Spain.

We will have a similar experience in Syria, not now,

but about 15-20 years from now.

There will be Syrian players who don't speak Arabic,

but rather German or Dutch, or any other European language.

I don't wish to talk negatively,

but I think it's currently challenging to work on,

there are more urgent priorities like making a living.

One would rather send his kids to earn a living rather than training them for sports,

we're losing a fertile generation with much potential

C'mon Ali, give me a ten.

"Our Father will introduce the cup now"

"Del Bosco!"

(The Syrian National Anthem)

"I had one large Falafel before coming here"

"A free kick to the Moroccan team, Hakim Ziyech on his mark"

"A cross into the penalty box!"

"Unbelievable... Unbelievable"

"Ball to the left wing he crosses it into the box"

"And a goal"

"Morocco! Morocco!"

"Morocco! Morocco!"

"Morocco! Morocco!"

"Morocco! Morocco!"

"Morocco! Morocco!"

"Greetings ladies and gentlemen from our home Al-Bayt Stadium"

"Hosting 60,000 spectators tonight England vs. France"

"Ball with Griezmann, he slips through and Tchouameni scores!"

"The crowds are bursting with joy! The stands are on fire!"

"Unsavable shot! A meteor!"

Why are you nervous? Because you're scared?

Or because you're angry and want to punch someone?

Because you feel shy and everybody will laugh at you?

We have done this before,

but something very important is number 3, which is to calm down.

You need to breathe.

Can everybody breathe, please?

Inhale from your nose and exhale from your mouth.

When you work with kids, emotions, hearts, minds, and the traumas,

you can't it make from day one.

You need to persevere, to be tenacious,

you should be courageous so you can fight for them.

Working here in Syria for the last three and a half years,

I can tell you that I have some idea,

because before I started this work with ISAT to implement this program,

as I told you, not only with players,

but first of all with our coaches, staff, with the parents and the family,

we need to know from where each of them comes from.

And if you ask me, working in places like India,

that have a diversity of cultures,

in Kashmir that have conflict zones,

or Afghanistan that have lived in a war for more than forty years,

I need to compare the level of aggression, violence, and frustration,

of the kids from those places and of the Syrian kids today,

I can say that the level of Syrian kids is here,

and here is the level of the Afghan kids.

But why,

since we have less wartime?

The level of exposure that the kids of Syria have been in,

it's huge.

They can't focus on learning,

they cannot...

be taken to discipline in the school,

the lack of respect,

and it's sad because we are talking about the next generation,

and I'm sorry to say this.

I'm not talking just as a counselor, a teacher, or as an educator,

I'm talking as a mother and a grandmother too.

Being in contact with these kids,

listening to their stories and the family's backgrounds,

it's impossible to not be emotionally involved.

This is our field, we have annual leagues here,

each year, players come and play here,

it's organized to some level, nothing fancy though, all rough-and-tumble.

Transportation is challenging

We first have to go to a village named Bab Janné,

then we take a bike ride towards the Arch,

the road from the Arch towards here is out of service,

because of fires and other reasons.

After that, we have to walk 2 -3 km to get here.

Another obstacle is when injuries happen, there's no coverage here,

it wouldn't be too much to ask for If we had a cellular tower here.

We have to carry the injured player because we don't have a stretcher,

we have to carry him for a long distance to reach the closest medical point.

We wish some talent scouts would come here,

so many great players are in the shade,

they can be a great asset for the national team

I have so many players on my team that should be listed for the national team

Over here!

Move it!

Over here!

Long pass c'mon! Long pass!

I passed it!

His hand was on his body!

It doesn't count

Let's stop the game!

Bring it on idiot!

The semi-finals are all set with Croatia, Argentina, Morocco, and France.

Morocco continues to make history as it defeated Portugal.

I support France,

I want Argentina to win for Messi's sake.

I don't mind if either of the teams win,

I only want Messi to crown his collection of prizes with the World Cup.

I also hope Morocco wins to become the first Arab country to do so.

"Leo goes through and scores!"

Argentina! Argentina!

I support Morocco

- Morocco, yeah - I support Argentina still

- I support Argentina - I support France

I honestly hope they play with France though they're a tough team.

We want revenge,

2 revenges, Croatia and France we won Croatia 3-0, now it's France's turn.

They knocked us at the group stage back We knocked them in the semi-finals.

Maradona and Messi are the Guevaras of football

What Guevara was to politics is what they are to football

I would like to restate that Messi is profiteered by clubs,

- He's not, - Yes he is,

he is profiteered, he plays for all teams.

What do you mean?

After all, he is playing for Argentina we should take Morocco's side.

Ever since 2008, Messi always makes my day,

he is the reason I wake up every morning,

I sure won't stop stanning for him for some other team.

Are we talking Nation-wise? Because they're Arabs? Or sports-wise?

- Both. - Nation-wise, it'd be good if Morocco won

but sports-wise Messi and Argentina is my athletic homeland

- It's a proper time to discuss this. - At all, let us enjoy the finals!

Argentina is our motherland today.

Argentina! Argentina!

One thing about me is that I've been against Argentina.

I don't prefer any particular team other than France,

I'm just against Argentina.

- That's why we're not getting along. - I've been against Argentina since the 1978 win.

I don't know, one can't tell why he likes or dislikes something,

All I know is that I support France.

I dislike Maradona in particular, he's the reason why I'm against Argentina,

Because he was the only one who cheated He used a religious pretext,

saying that God moved his hand and made him score.

This is despicable cheating.

I think he's the main reason why I dislike Argentina for this particular reason.

At the dorm,

Morocco's matches are always like that full of thrill and cheering,

it's an Arab country

we hope that an Arab country will bring it home one day

"Folklore of Al-Suwaida' governate"

"Folklore of Daraa governate"

Morocco! Morocco!

"The team is driven by determination The team of the Arab cause,"

"ignites the spirits of a million Arab spectators,"

"and announces to the world that the sons of this nation,"

"can grasp the unreachable when they want to."

"Unbelievable! What a miss!"

"Mexican linesman Alberto Morin calls an offside on Kylian Mbappé."

"On the first touch he slots in the second"

"and takes France to the finals"

"being the fastest substitute to score in World Cup history"

The 2022 World Cup has reached its final stage,

Lusail Stadium will be hosting France vs. Argentina,

which is competing to gain their third star.

Messi will be one step away,

from crowning his team with a win on his final game as a World Cup player.

The Moroccan team was the black horse in this competition,

being the first-ever African team to reach the semi-finals.

Moroccans still have a chance of taking the third place upon playing against Croatia,

the runner-up of the last World Cup,

who showed a marvelous performance at this competition.

I had a huge desire to participate in the World Cup,

I couldn't become a player, I was a bit late.

My only way in was to become a journalist,

a host or, a sports-news presenter

I wish to reach a higher level and go international.

Morocco is making it to the semi-finals didn't touch me on the Arab level,

I was moved by the fact that they're African,

I have nothing towards Morocco and their team,

a bit on the fence you can say.

I was a little bitter that they eliminated my team,

spite is overtaking any chance of me being happy for them.

"Please remain standing if possible for the national anthem of France."

"France National Anthem"

"The final has kicked off,"

"the path to the finals wasn't a walk in a rosy park"

"the Tango team lost 2-1 to the Green Falcons"

"Will Argentina make history today? and be the second team in World Cup history"

"to win the competition after starting with a loss like Spain 2010?"

"Their offense is alike their defense is close"

"For the first time since 1978,"

"we have both teams at the final losing their initial match"

I support Argentina.

- I support Argentina too. - I support France.

I dream to see the World Cup in Messi's hands

"Messi has his full focus on this game"

"He has a chance to even the score"

"Messi forward! And he scores!"

I don't want France to win,

they've been unfair to Arabs.

"Coman passes it to Rabiot, Rabiot slips in"

"Mbappé shots and scores!"

You bastards!

"Macron or Fernández?"

"When it's World Cup, football, when there are trophies,"

"Everything sets aside, daily jobs wait, and football units people,"

"the game joins us."

"It sprouts joy within our hearts and sparks thrill within our chests,"

"Football bonds us with its tales, it's indeed a philosophy in itself."

"He pushes ahead, goes forward and he scores!"

"Finally, did tears sail out your eyes, Messi!"

"You're finally out of Maradona's leash!"

"Now your name stands on its own!"

"4-4, justice took its course after all, winds were with Argentina today."

The amazing part of watching the World Cup in Syria,

is seeing people wearing your T-shirt,

having the flag of your country, and cheering up for your people.

When we're so far away geographically, it's something amazing, it's a gift.

It's a privilege, you know.

I feel privileged.

I spoke with some players and coaches,

they said, unfortunately, we have to support Brazil or Argentina,

because Syria is not in the World Cup.

And this is a little...

sad, you know.

But, I believe that Syria has the potential to qualify,

and one day the Syrian flag will be represented in the World Cup.

It's not an easy situation for a country with 12 years of war

Too many years.

The world has moved miles ahead While we're still processing 2011.

Potential for development is nearly non-existent.

All local referees in Asia aim to participate in the AFC Asian Cup,

If I make it there, I will surely aim for the World Cup,

because every referee dreams about refereeing in the World Cup,

I don't want it to be a dream, I will work my way there.

I dream of going out and receiving another nationality,

the nationality of any country that plays good football.

I also dream of going pro abroad With a renowned club.

I've already started contacting football academies regarding Karam,

Some are in Austria, UAE, and Qatar.

I want him to go abroad because it's better for his career,

procurements are better out there it's a better chance to develop his skills.