• Girls pose together on the pitch during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup at the newly reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium in the rebel-held Syrian city. More than 300 children held their own football tournament on Saturday. All photos by AFP
    Girls pose together on the pitch during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup at the newly reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium in the rebel-held Syrian city. More than 300 children held their own football tournament on Saturday. All photos by AFP
  • Children pose by a mock-up of the Fifa World Cup trophy. More than 300 youngsters in Idlib staged their own World Cup on Saturday, with organisers hoping to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war
    Children pose by a mock-up of the Fifa World Cup trophy. More than 300 youngsters in Idlib staged their own World Cup on Saturday, with organisers hoping to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war
  • A boy wearing a Qatar jersey poses for a photo next to a wall riddled with bullet holes
    A boy wearing a Qatar jersey poses for a photo next to a wall riddled with bullet holes
  • Youths take part in the Camps World Cup opening ceremony in Idlib. Thirty-two squads corresponded to the nations that have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar
    Youths take part in the Camps World Cup opening ceremony in Idlib. Thirty-two squads corresponded to the nations that have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar
  • Excited children take part in the opening ceremony at the municipal stadium in Idlib, north-west Syria, wearing the jerseys of this year's World Cup teams
    Excited children take part in the opening ceremony at the municipal stadium in Idlib, north-west Syria, wearing the jerseys of this year's World Cup teams
  • This picture taken on November 19, 2022 shows an aerial view of youths performing during the opening ceremony of the "Camps World Cup" at the newly-reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian city. - More than 300 children in rebel-held northwest Syria kicked off their own football World Cup on November 19, with organisers hoping to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war. The excited children took part in the opening ceremony at the municipal stadium in Idlib, wearing the jerseys of this year's World Cup teams. Their 32 squads correspond to the nations that have qualified for the World Cup, which starts the following day in Qatar, and their competition opened with a match between the host country and Ecuador, reflecting the official schedule. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
    This picture taken on November 19, 2022 shows an aerial view of youths performing during the opening ceremony of the "Camps World Cup" at the newly-reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian city. - More than 300 children in rebel-held northwest Syria kicked off their own football World Cup on November 19, with organisers hoping to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war. The excited children took part in the opening ceremony at the municipal stadium in Idlib, wearing the jerseys of this year's World Cup teams. Their 32 squads correspond to the nations that have qualified for the World Cup, which starts the following day in Qatar, and their competition opened with a match between the host country and Ecuador, reflecting the official schedule. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
  • The mascot of the Camps World Cup, depicted as an olive called Hareef (expert), is presented with the mascot of the Qatar World Cup, La'eeb, during the event's opening ceremony in Idlib
    The mascot of the Camps World Cup, depicted as an olive called Hareef (expert), is presented with the mascot of the Qatar World Cup, La'eeb, during the event's opening ceremony in Idlib
  • Children wearing Qatari strips pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup in Idlib.
    Children wearing Qatari strips pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup in Idlib.
  • Children posing on the pitch during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup
    Children posing on the pitch during the opening ceremony of the Camps World Cup
  • More than 300 children in rebel-held north-west Syria staged their own football World Cup on Saturday
    More than 300 children in rebel-held north-west Syria staged their own football World Cup on Saturday
  • More than 300 children held their own World Cup in Idlib, Syria, on Saturday
    More than 300 children held their own World Cup in Idlib, Syria, on Saturday
  • Girls line up and pose together at the newly reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium
    Girls line up and pose together at the newly reopened Idlib Municipal Stadium
  • NGO workers take part in the opening ceremony
    NGO workers take part in the opening ceremony
  • Children wearing the jerseys of the Ecuador team pose for a group photo
    Children wearing the jerseys of the Ecuador team pose for a group photo
  • Children wearing Qatar jerseys take a group photo before competing
    Children wearing Qatar jerseys take a group photo before competing
  • Children representing Qatar and Ecuador in action
    Children representing Qatar and Ecuador in action
  • A child representing Qatar advances up the pitch
    A child representing Qatar advances up the pitch
  • Children shake hands after the game
    Children shake hands after the game

MENA

More than 300 children stage their own World Cup in Syria - in pictures

Organisers hope to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war

The National

November 20, 2022

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Updated: November 20, 2022, 12:21 PM
Syria