A youth soccer club in New Jersey, the Palestino Soccer Academy, provides a refuge for Palestinian-American children amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to reports. The club, founded three years ago by coach Omar Abdulaziz, serves children of all backgrounds but centers on the Palestinian-American community, offering a space to process trauma and connect with their heritage, officials said.
How Soccer Offers Emotional Relief
The Palestino Soccer Academy, based in Woodland Park, New Jersey, has become a critical outlet for young players navigating the emotional toll of the Gaza conflict. Coach Abdulaziz, who moved from the West Bank to Puerto Rico as a teenager in the 1980s, said the club was created to help children “detach from the suffering of reality” through soccer. “We could hear their frustrations, they were emotionally unwell,” he said, according to a 2026 NPR report.
Palestinian officials told NPR that 90% of sports infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed, and 450 people involved in sports, including athletes and officials, have been killed in Israeli attacks since 2023. For players like 14-year-old Obaida Al Amleh, who lost five family friends in an airstrike, the field is a place to “ball out” rather than “bawl at home,” he said. “You can ball in the pitch, or you can bawl at home, I guess.”
The Role of Lamine Yamal in the Community
The club’s players closely follow Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Spanish striker for FC Barcelona, who has become a symbol of hope. Yamal, the child of immigrants, recently spoke out against anti-Muslim chants at Spanish matches and waved a Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s La Liga victory parade in May 2026. The gesture went viral, with photos of the moment appearing as wallpaper on many players’ phones.
“When he gets on the pitch he forgets about everything and just focuses on the game,” said Obaida, who was born in the West Bank. The club’s 13-year-old player Taim Nadin echoed the sentiment, stating, “Without soccer in life there’s nothing. If I didn’t play soccer, I’d be nothing.”
Connecting to Heritage and Global Support
The academy’s focus on Palestinian culture includes elements like the Palestinian flag and discussions about the conflict. However, players also channel their energy into supporting global teams. Noah Abdo, a 12-year-old member, wore a Palestinian pendant during practice, reflecting the community’s dual identity as both American and Palestinian.
Abdulaziz emphasized that the club’s mission extends beyond sports. “Soccer, to us, is a moment of tranquility,” he said. The academy’s efforts align with broader efforts by Palestinian diaspora groups to preserve cultural ties while addressing the psychological impact of the conflict.
As the Gaza war continues, the Palestino Soccer Academy remains a beacon of resilience for its young players, blending sport, heritage, and hope in a community shaped by displacement and loss.