2038 World Cup - The Middle Easy

Israel, Lebanon and Palestine look forward as the world looks back

History has always run deep in this part of the world, its young inhabitants are more concerned with the future

It is difficult not to consider the historical significance of this year's World Cup. The host nations are certainly relishing in the moment and corporations are profiting accordingly. While some have complained that the symbolism is over-wrought, pointing to the effusive sentimentality of naming the largest stadium the "Garden of the Children of Abraham" as the most prominent example, the remainder of us cannot help but look upon the sun setting over the Mount of Olives at this year's spectacle with awe.

It is the first World Cup hosted by three nations. It is the first World Cup in which no host nation has qualified to compete in the competition. For each hosting nation, however, these facts are trivial if not completely insignficant. Today, the idea of the World Cup taking place in the Middle East means very little to the many young fans watching other than better weather and more night life opportunities than the most recent host, Argentina. Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine no longer dominate the newscasts; nevertheless, for the leaders responsible for organizing and coordinating this year's events the memories of the past are powerful indeed, seeped so much in blood and with eons of history.

Players from each of the host nations are represented on other teams, and some of their parents literally have scars from earlier wars fighting against one another. When they do get sentimental, each nation also has its own narrative of historical landmarks from which to consider this year's events, the Israelis reach back exactly 100 years to 1938, Kristalnach in Germany, or 90 years to their nation's founding. The Palestinians recall their own suffering from defeat and occupation from the very same event. The Lebanese meanwhile look inward and hearken to their 2008 internal conflict that nearly rekindled the tragic and bloody civil war from years earlier.

However, by the grace of a new generation of leaders it is very rare indeed that the peoples of these nations look backward rather than forward. The frightening rise of religiously-motivated violence within each country enabled the secular leadership to recognize a commonality that was perviously denied. Their rationalism and bravery was birthed from a simple concept that a lamb who fights to the death at its slaugher remains a slaughtered lamb. A simple lesson perhaps yet one that took over a century for any side to realize. The leaders' vision of forging a new dream, not of victory over the other, but of cooperating together has enabled this reality, the most historic World Cup since 2010, if not ever.

Down from the mountains

The Middle East however still has significant problems and challenges ahead. The so-called peace dividend proved to yield much less growth than had originally been anticipated. Palestinians remain poorer than the rest of their neighbors, with an average per capita PPP of $55,000 (US) versus leader Lebanon ($84,000). Each country has assumed more debt recently to counter-affect the economic slump, and entitlements compared to those of Europe or North America remain relatively scant. The entire Near East still has income levels lower than the rest of the world, a fact that some point to as a reason only two neighborhood favorites, Egypt and Iraq, mustered a team that qualified for the World Cup tournament.

Each country is also beset with its own political scandals. Israel's Labor party remains dissolute with rumors of nepotism and sexual misconduct running rampant throughout its leadership. Palestine remains deadlocked as its current Prime Minister refuses to step down in spite of running a minority government for the last two years. Lebanon, its politics often the butt of jokes in the region, continues its heated debate on whether to switch from French to Chinese for its secondary language education. An infusion of $400 million of French aid has only complicated the equation.

Recent advancements have allowed everyone in the region to have great hope that these problems will be overcome. History continues its forceful march in this part of the world. As already mentioned, this particular World Cup may have been the most significant in history due to its symbolism. The host nations were but one aspect however, as this was indeed a World Cup of many firsts. We must also mention this as the first time a North American team returns home victorious. Congratulations Canada!

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