NEW YORK – As the sun began to set on a warm Wednesday evening in New York, Moroccan Dahlia shouted, “Sir! Sir! Sir!” – “Go! Go! Go!” – A loud boom rang out from a cafe in Astoria, the ethnically diverse heart of Queens. Astoria has long served as a major hub for one of New York City’s most established Arab communities.
Just after 8pm local time (00:00 GMT), fans carrying Moroccan flags took over the iconic Steinway Street and celebrations erupted after the North African nation defeated Haiti 4-2 to book their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the second time in a row.
Two days ago, it was Egypt who defeated New Zealand 3-1 to secure their first World Cup victory. The heart of the Arab-American enclave of Queens turned into a sea of fans draped in Egyptian flags and chanting “Masr! Masr! Masr!” – Arabic word for Egypt.
And on Monday, sandwiched between Africa’s two wins, Algeria played Jordan in Group J, making their first appearance in the tournament, causing excitement across the Arab world.
Fans from both countries packed cafes and sidewalks to watch the match together.
Algerian fans had a reason to celebrate, with their team scoring a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Jordan, adding flavor to the Arab football extravaganza that continues across Astoria over the weekend.
For some locals in the community, it was a fitting nod to the New York borough, home to a large North African diaspora.
“I watched the 2022 Qatar World Cup in Morocco, and it’s incredible how similar the atmosphere[here]is,” Muawia, an undergraduate at Barnard College, recalled.
“Everyone is wearing jerseys and holding Moroccan flags. It’s not just Moroccans, but also people from other Arab and African countries.”
Generations of Arab-American New Yorkers have lived in the bustling 2.4-mile Steinway Street neighborhood, known for its cafes, bakeries, shops, and hookah lounges decorated with the flags of Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine.
expression of national pride
On a typical summer day, Steinway Street is buzzing with the sounds of cars and families milling between storefronts and late-night eateries.
During the World Cup, car horns blare after every goal, and crowds celebrate well past midnight by singing and clapping as fireworks light up the sky.
Inside Midnight Astoria, a local hookah lounge, Algerian fans watched the match amid plumes of smoke clouding a large screen.
With the sounds of the crowd inside the venue mixing with the action on the field, the lounge was transformed into a mini-stadium where fans rooting for opposing teams were united by a common pan-Arab identity and culture.
It was a sense of solidarity that transcended allegiance between nations.
During the post-match celebrations, fans who chanted and rejoiced alongside Algerian supporters spoke of a broad sense of solidarity across the Arab diaspora.
“I’m from Iraq. Even though my team lost to France (last Tuesday), I’m going to support all the Arab teams, okay?” he said with a joyful smile.
In Astoria, watching the World Cup is an expression of national pride and, for Arab fans, a way to stay connected to their homeland while living in a country with increasingly strict borders and immigration controls.
While US President Donald Trump’s administration’s travel and visa policies have restricted and denied entry to players, support staff, match officials and fans, local communities have come together to forge a path to international representation.
Egypt fan Kareem installed a television in front of his parents’ store so fans could watch from the sidewalk. He said seeing Egyptians celebrating on a Steinway reminds him of home.
“Especially at the World Cup, you already feel like you’re back in Egypt. You’re in the stadium in the middle of Cairo, in the middle of Alexandria, and it’s New York.”
“I was very happy and happy,” said Ahmed, a local fan who held a large Egyptian flag from his sports car.
“I see people being happy about their culture and their country.”
Ahmed said legendary forward Mohamed Salah made him feel confident in his Egyptian identity. “He made me want to wear Egyptian clothes and show off Egypt.”
Arab communities in New York and across the country have long faced suspicion and demonization since the September 11 attacks.
Years of increased surveillance, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and political debates over immigration and national security have shaped these fears.
For many immigrant communities, the World Cup has not only been a moment of national pride, but also provided a sense of belonging and identity.
Queens is the epicenter of the celebration, but other New York boroughs are also experiencing World Cup fever.
In Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, Zahid Zakaria and Leila Hadi watched the Morocco-Haiti game at a restaurant and hookah bar.
Zahid enjoyed the “party” atmosphere and said: “I think the best moment was the fourth goal, obviously… it was really great to be here with people who have connections to their homeland.”
Although Bay Ridge has a large Arab-American population, Zahid is Mauritian and Leila is Pakistani, and both recognize the importance of this moment.
“The most incredible thing is that people who have been told they don’t belong are embracing unity,” Hadi said.
Now back in Queens, Raihana believes the World Cup has provided a rare moment of unity.
“The biggest takeaway is that soccer has always been a sport that brings people together and it still serves that purpose,” she said as the crowd waved Moroccan flags around her.
“There have been so many divisions within the Arab diaspora, but it is so beautiful to see that we are still able to come together to celebrate this victory.”
