After a month when evening matches, penalty shootouts, and football discussions dictated the daily routine of fans across the UAE, the tournament suddenly concluded.
Feeling of Emptiness After the Tournament
Marwan Sharif, a resident of Dubai from Sudan, noted that waking up without the expected next match feels strangely familiar, yet no less difficult. He compared this feeling to the end of a relationship, saying it is like breaking up with someone he genuinely valued.
Sharif explained that although the World Cup starts as entertainment, as the tournament progresses, it gradually becomes part of the fan's emotional and physical routine. Initially, it was just fun leisure time after work, but by the playoff stage, it transforms into something to which one is emotionally attached.
Changes in Daily Life
His days began to revolve around game results, match start times, and the need to recover from night games. He admitted to checking scores of late games even before getting up, restructuring his day and nap schedule around kick-off times, and disrupting his sleep pattern due to penalties, as if it personally affected his life.
As an Argentina supporter, Sharif misses most of all the emotional tension that international football brings. He emphasized how much he loves those 'rollercoaster' mixed emotions over 90 minutes, especially as an Argentina fan, recalling the nervous excitement before Messi begins his mastery. He believes that finding such a feeling in old age elsewhere is impossible.
He thinks that club football, particularly the decisive stages of the Champions League, might partially fill this void, although it won't compare to the main tournament.
The Event's Appeal to Everyone
The sense of loss is not limited to those who regularly follow sports. Hadher Musad, a resident of Abu Dhabi, usually does not watch football, but tunes in every four years when the World Cup begins. She stated that you don't have to be a fan to watch, because the tournament is much more than just the sport; it is an event that unites everyone.
For Musad, the appeal of the tournament lies in the atmosphere and the overall experience, not just the games themselves. Whether one is at home, in fan zones, or among colleagues, the World Cup provided a common topic of discussion and a reason to gather. She recalled how meeting friends at 11 PM on Tuesday became the new normal, and how everyone at work discussed it the next morning, even those who usually weren't interested in football.
Now that the tournament is over, she plans to return to her usual routine but noted that the energy created by the World Cup will be hard to replace.
Mixed Feelings After the Final
Rahim Jairkhanov, another Dubai resident, experienced mixed emotions about the tournament's conclusion. On one hand, part of him wished the celebration would continue, given all the emotions the tournament delivered, but on the other, he is glad for the chance to focus on things other than football again.
He described the final as bittersweet, even though he was pleased with his favorite team's victory. During the last month, football divided every day into two parts: work and personal matters occupied the early hours until the evening matches took over. He said he always knew that the second half of the day would be filled with strong emotions, surrounded by good friends and elegant football.
Jairkhanov also highly praised the atmosphere created across Dubai, especially in the city's fan zones. He expressed hope that they will see a World Cup held in the UAE in the near future. Most of all, he will miss the atmosphere, as well as the chance to see players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who may not appear in the next World Cup. He advised fans experiencing post-tournament emptiness: 'Don't be sad, find positivity in everything.'
