As the pro-longed war have destroyed much of the sports infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, in displacement camps, narrow spaces between tents have become makeshift football pitches, offering a rare chance for children to enjoy a moment of "normality" amid hardship.
In one camp, Palestinian children play barefoot in a narrow gap between displacement tents, using the open side of a tent as a goal. With no proper playgrounds nearby, the children make do with whatever space they can find. But playing in a crowded camp comes with challenges, as families struggle to share the limited space.
"We play here in the camp because most football fields have been destroyed or are occupied by displaced families. Sometimes our playing disturbs people, so we don't play very often. We also don’t have proper sports clothes or shoes," said Yazan Al-Haddad, a displaced Palestinian child.
Adults in the camp said it is important that children have a chance to be children, especially amid the hardship of displacement.
"The simplest thing we can offer children is the chance to play. It's one of the most basic things that makes them like children anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, the space here is extremely limited, and there are virtually no recreational areas across the Gaza Strip," said Abdel Halim, a displaced Palestinian.
Gaza City's main football stadium has been transformed into a displacement camp, with dozens of tents covering the pitch. According to the Palestinian Football Association, 285 sports facilities have been destroyed across the Gaza Strip.
"Over three years of war in Gaza, these children have lost their homes, schools and clubs where they used to play football. They have also lost friends and family members. They now search for any small space to play football, whether in the streets, among the rubble or in displacement camps," said Mustafa Siyam, media director of the association.
For young football enthusiasts, the loss of sports facilities also means fewer opportunities to discover their talents, receive professional training or pursue their dreams of becoming football players.
For Gaza's children, any small space can become a football pitch, but restoring safe places to play remains essential to bringing back a sense of their long-lost childhood.
Displaced children in Gaza turn spaces between tents into makeshift football pitches
Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are accelerating Mexico City's shift to green transport, easing the squeeze of soaring fuel costs and choking pollution on local residents while drawing praise from drivers, commuters and city officials.
Chinese EVs now account for almost 90 percent of all battery-electric cars sold in Mexico, a dominance driven by soaring fuel costs and the city's pressing pollution problem, with vehicle emissions blamed for roughly 80 percent of Mexico City's nitrogen oxide.
Frank Velazquez, an automotive reviewer, spoke highly of the Chinese-made vehicles at a track event on the outskirts of the Mexican capital.
"I like it. I like the instant reaction from the car," he said.
Beyond performance, continuously rising gas prices give Mexican drivers another reason to make the switch, Velazquez noted, with many owners turning to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
The shift, however, reaches beyond private cars, as Chinese-made buses are playing a pivotal role in Mexico City's drive to electrify its public transport system.
"I think it's much better. I think it pollutes less," said one resident, and another shared the sentiment, recalling the heavy pollution of the old buses and describing the fully electric vehicles now on the streets as a huge step forward for Mexico City.
The city has been expanding its electric bus system for several years. During the FIFA World Cup 2026, it assembled 800 new energy buses for the tournament, more than 95 percent of them Chinese-made, with Yutong, a leading coach maker based in central China's Henan Province, accounting for 85 percent alone.
For the drivers behind the wheel, the new buses bring advantages they can feel on every route.
"The old vehicles used to break down frequently, often leaving us in a difficult spot. The new ones, however, are equipped with accessible ramps and a height lowering feature, making it much easier for the elderly to get on and off. Additionally, more seats have been designated specifically for women. There are so many benefits," said bus driver Israel Espinosa Rodriguez.
Chinese bus makers' commitment extends well beyond vehicle delivery, reaching into the day-to-day servicing of the fleet.
By dispatching engineers to Mexico to train local technicians in vehicle maintenance and repair, they are helping drive down operating costs, savings that can then be channeled into expanding the transport network and adding routes to serve more passengers.
Martin Lopez Delgado, director general of Mexico City Electric Transport Service, has much to show for what the city has achieved with the help of Chinese technology.
"We have become a model for many South American countries. Meanwhile, people from various European countries and several U.S. states have visited our electric transport system to draw upon the experience we have gained over the years," he said.
Chinese EVs drive Mexico City's green shift with performance, full-system solutions
Chinese EVs drive Mexico City's green shift with performance, full-system solutions
