In pictures: Gaza’s love for soccer

At just 16, Bashar Abu Qeriya is one of Gaza Sports Club’s most promising players, known as ‘the Gazan Messi’ (not to be confused with national team player Ashraf Al Fawaghra, known as ‘the Palestinian Messi’) Heidi Levine for The National

Bashar, left, is cited by manager Abu Hassi as one of the club’s greatest hope for the future. Heidi Levine for The National

'The biggest interest in football in all of Palestine comes from Gaza, because they don’t have any other way to express themselves,' says Ibrahim Abu Sarem, vice president of the Gaza Football Association. Heidi Levine for The National

People young and old, embrace the spirt of the World Cup and gather along the beach to play and watch the games across the Gaza Strip. Heidi Levine for The National

Gaza Sports Club captain Assim Abu Hassi, 31, explains that many young players see football as a way of resistance. Heidi Levine for The National

He says young Palestinians know football is not a way of making a living in Palestine, but 'we want to play because we want to tell the world that we exist, and that Palestine exists'. Heidi Levine for The National

The 360 km-squared Gaza Strip is home to 56 football clubs spread across three divisions, with league games attracting between 25,000 and 30,000 fans. Heidi Levine for The National

The strip is home to five stadiums – the sixth was bombed by the Israelis in 2012. Heidi Levine for The National

Many young Palestinians dream of playing in the West Bank because of the limitations in Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National

A young female Palestinian girl tosses a football high in the air on the beach in Gaza City June 23,2014. Heidi Levine for The National

'We’ve no other option here. There is nothing else to do but play football,' says Bashar Abu Qeriya. Heidi Levine for The National

In Gaza, football is a big deal, and in World Cup season conversations eventually tend to move on to who supports whom. The National’s foreign correspondent Orlando Crowcroft finds out why.