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Yemen-Indonesia U20 Match: United by Football, Bonded by Solidarity

As a Yemeni student who has spent three years in Indonesia, I was so excited to attend the third qualifying match between Indonesia and my home country, Yemen, for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

I came there along with my Yemeni friends—most of them are students—with an aim not to compete but to convey our support and solidarity for both teams. Our message was clear: ‘We love Indonesia just as we love Yemen’. This is how the hearts of the Yemeni fans shouted as they cheered for the match. 

My eyes filled with excitement as the crowds entered carrying both Yemeni and Indonesian flags altogether. From what I observed, there was no sense of competition. The vibe was more like a bonding and friendly match, and this was also reflected in the audience. The Yemeni fans sat side by side with the Indonesian fans, exchanging chants and enthusiasm throughout the match. 

It doesn't matter who will win, but what's important is that we enjoy ourselves. The Yemeni crowds have not forgotten the hospitality and kind treatment from the Indonesian people, so they carried the slogan "From Yemen to Indonesia. Love and peace - Football unites us". 

Such spirit goes both ways given the appreciation and expression of the love of the Indonesian people. The Indonesian fans also showed their welcome and love for the Yemeni fans.   

Though football isn’t usually my favorite, today I saw it in a different light. Beyond the back-and-forth of the ball on the field, I noticed the passion in the fans, the way they shared their emotions, and the sportsmanship between players and fans—win or lose, there were always handshakes and respect. 

The Yemeni-Indonesian relations also extend deeply into history, humanity, and religion, illustrating the extent to which people are connected to each other regardless of their nationality backgrounds. 

Thank you to Indonesia for the wonderful hosting of the sports group for the 2025 Asia Cup. Who knows, maybe the two teams will meet again in the final and victory will be guaranteed for everyone. 

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*) Mohammed Ahmed Ali Al-Aini is a Yemeni graduate student at UIII, PhD in Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS).

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