Written by Bernardo Mancini
Syria: Football and Politics in Transition
Syria has been undergoing a profound political and social upheaval since the fall of the Assad regime. Amid internal wars, repression, and secret deals, Syrian football too is being transformed.
After the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s rule, Syria is now facing a difficult transition towards democracy. At the helm of the new government is Aḥmad Ḥusayn al-Sharaʿ, known as al-Jawlānī, a figure who emerged from the revolutionary movement. Despite his stated intentions to build a democratic system, the country continues to be torn by internal fractures, historical rivalries, and latent tensions that have recently erupted into fresh outbreaks of violence.
The Damascus Case and Intercommunal Escalation
On 11 July 2025, in Damascus, an assault on a Druze street vendor by a group of Bedouin soldiers reignited tensions between the country’s communities. What began as an isolated incident quickly escalated into violent clashes across the province, involving Druze militias and Bedouin fighters. The situation worsened when government troops intervened—ostensibly to restore order—but ended up committing acts of violence against both factions.
The attacks on the Druze community prompted an immediate reaction from Israel, which launched targeted bombings on Damascus and several Syrian military positions. The Israeli intervention drew international attention, particularly from the United States, which on 19 July brokered a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Syria.
In a televised speech, al-Jawlānī condemned the violence, urged the Bedouin fighters to respect the ceasefire, and promised an investigation to identify those responsible for the attack on the Druze community.
Crisis of Support and Risk of Regression
The Syrian president now faces a growing loss of support, exacerbated by a series of massacres targeting the Alawite minority in various regions. For many, the risk of returning to the climate of terror experienced during the Assad era feels increasingly real—despite al-Jawlānī still enjoying legitimacy as the country’s “liberator.”
The ambiguity of his actions—some of which have been denounced as authoritarian—clashes with the launch of a still-fragile democratic process. New elections have been announced for 2026, and some institutional reforms are underway, but the absence of a clear political direction and persistent instability undermine public trust.
Syria has lost billions in GDP, and its infrastructure lies in ruins. According to international sources, 9 out of 10 Syrians live in extreme poverty. In response to the political transition, the European Union and the United States have started easing some sanctions, offering glimpses of economic recovery.
On the geopolitical front, following the ceasefire, Israel has opened informal negotiations to strengthen its control over the Golan Heights—an area deemed strategic for border security. Russia’s ambiguous stance deserves a separate note: in an interview, al-Jawlānī claimed that Moscow deliberately abandoned its long-time ally Assad in exchange for access to ports and key infrastructure essential for the Kremlin’s war economy.
Syria now stands at a crossroads: on one side, the real possibility of rising from the rubble of civil war and authoritarianism; on the other, the looming danger of internal strife and new autocratic tendencies dragging the country back decades. In this uncertain scenario, the Syrian people remain suspended between disillusionment and hope, waiting to see whether the promised change will be real—or just another illusion.
The Syrian National Team
But beyond politics, borders, and conflict—how is Syrian football faring?
Syria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing third in their group behind Japan (18 points) and North Korea (9 points). A disappointment that reflects the country’s broader struggle to rebuild: football, like politics, needs time to reorganise, overcome chaos, and forge a new identity. Despite a decent run during qualification, the national team displayed structural shortcomings.
One match, in particular, deserves closer attention.
North Korea v Syria, 2024.
Played on neutral ground in Laos, at the New Laos International Stadium in Vientiane, in front of only a handful of North Korean supporters, the match unfolded in total opacity. Official communications, even from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), were contradictory: at first, it was reported as a 1–0 win for Syria, then 0–0, then a 1–1 draw, and finally—hours later—revised to a 1–0 win for North Korea. The outcomes were posted almost randomly across the social media accounts of those involved.
Historically, North Korea and Syria had been strategically aligned. Pyongyang had supplied Damascus, during Assad’s years, with advanced technologies to convert chemical agents into warheads. The Syrian nuclear reactor destroyed by Israel in 2007 had been funded by the North Korean regime. In Aleppo, North Koreans played a role in repairing infrastructure.
In 2015, the Assad regime even inaugurated a park in Damascus named after Kim Il-sung, grandfather of the current North Korean leader—revered as the “Eternal President.” Coincidentally, that same title had been attributed to Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar, who was celebrated in songs and state rallies. Upon his death in 2000, the hills around Damascus were covered with giant portraits reading: “With Assad for eternity, beyond eternity.”
Now that Assad has fallen and a new Syria is emerging, that alliance no longer seems as solid—and this bizarre football episode may serve as a symbolic marker.
The Symbol of Omar Al Soma
Syria is among the few national teams that, due to historical ties, have agreed in recent months to organise friendlies against Russia, banned from UEFA and FIFA competitions. And in 2018, during the World Cup hosted by Russia, Syria came close to a historic qualification.
Amid a brutal civil war and more than 400,000 deaths, the national team made it to the playoffs for Russia 2018, earning a heroic 2–2 draw against Iran—offering a glimmer of hope to a devastated nation. One of the heroes of that campaign was Omar Al Soma.
His personal journey mirrors Syria’s conflict. A talented striker, Al Soma made his debut in 2012 but was suspended from the national team just months later for a gesture deemed “subversive”: during the West Asian Cup final, he waved the revolutionary Syrian flag in front of fans—becoming the first footballer to openly oppose Assad. The act came at a high cost: five years of exile from the national team.
In 2017, he returned—called up at the last minute for the qualifiers—and scored the dramatic equaliser in the 93rd minute against Iran, taking Syria to the playoff round. He scored again, but Syria were eliminated in the return leg against Australia, thanks to a Tim Cahill brace in extra time.
A shattered dream, but one rooted in the desire for redemption. “To give back a feeling of joy to our people and to play for all the Syrians who are no longer with us” became the motto of that near-miraculous campaign.
Building from the Youth
Although qualification for the 2026 World Cup has slipped away, there are encouraging signs. The Under-23 national team has qualified for the final stages of the AFC Asian Cup, marking a small but important step towards sporting revival. This is not just about football: these players reflect a country trying to break with the past and put its faith in a generation raised amid war, uprisings, and silence.
Syria needs new lifeblood. Politically, socially, and in sport, its rebirth depends on those who have known nothing but rubble—yet look ahead. Syria was one of the first Middle Eastern nations to participate in World Cup qualifiers, starting as early as the 1950/1954 cycle—proof that football and Syria have long been intertwined. Today, just like back then, playing and dreaming of a different future still seems possible.
The Syrian League
Like the national team, the Syrian domestic league was suspended during the civil war. Traditionally, it was structured into two groups of 12 teams each, with home and away fixtures. The top two teams from each group would then meet in a final to determine the champion.
With Assad’s fall and the subsequent revolutions, the tournament was restructured—at least for the 2024/25 season. A new format was introduced: a single league table, with the top four teams facing off in a mini-tournament for the title.
This year’s champion was Al-Ittihad Sports Club of Aleppo. Founded in 1942, it is Syria’s most decorated club, with six league titles, nine Syrian Cups, and an AFC Cup—the Asian equivalent of the Europa League.
As for the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition, no Syrian team has ever won the trophy. In the current season, which has already begun, no Syrian team is participating.
Starting from the 2024/25 edition, the AFC Champions League Elite adopted a new format: a single group stage with 24 teams divided into two zones (East and West), preceded by qualifying rounds for teams without direct entry. Each year, the number of teams per federation is determined by the AFC Competitions Committee, using criteria similar to UEFA’s.
The 2025/26 season will begin in October, though it is still unclear whether the traditional league format will return or if the revised format will continue. The uncertainty stems not only from Syria’s internal political situation but also from infrastructure issues. Many clubs are unable to host matches in their own stadiums.
Several teams now play in neutral venues located in safer areas like Damascus or Latakia. Historic grounds such as Aleppo’s Municipal Stadium were badly damaged during the conflict and only partially restored.
Despite major difficulties—including destroyed infrastructure, slow economic recovery, and political instability—Syrian football is trying to stay afloat. Some stadiums have gradually reopened, becoming symbols of rebirth and hope. Damascus’ Fayhaa Stadium, for example, is now one of the most frequently used for major matches, thanks to its relatively secure location and its capacity of over 12,000.
A Fragile Future
Football never truly stops. It may be interrupted, but it refuses to yield to conflict, civil war, or regime change. It continues—parallel to Syria’s internal politics—to search for a path forward, clinging to the eternal dream of one day reaching the World Cup.
All words by Bernardo Mancini
