Football win-win will be ‘pure joy’ for Egyptian Australians

There is only one group of Australians who will not be nervous going into Australia’s knock-out World Cup match against Egypt – Egyptian Australians.

“It’s a win-win. It’s going to be pure joy, no matter who wins,” says Yusra Metwally, a football tragic, lawyer, community advocate and proud supporter of both teams from Campsie in Sydney’s west.

“When push comes to shove, it will be a painful watch because someone has to lose, and that will break my heart. But right now, it’s pure joy.”

The Socceroos will take on the Egyptian national team in a do-or-die knockout clash kicking off at 4am on Saturday after both teams reached the tournament’s round of 32.

Neither team has won a World Cup elimination game. The Pharaohs already made history at this year’s tournament getting out of the group stage.

Pubs broadcasting the match will be allowed to remain open or re-open for the early morning clash, while fans will also be able to gather at the live site in Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park.

Separately, Egyptian community organisations and the consulate have organised watch parties for the community and supporters at cafes, shisha bars, leagues clubs and in people’s homes.

The match represents a unique moment for one of Australia’s oldest and most successful diasporas, distilling complex feelings of identity and ancestry into a knockout match. But to Metwally, dual identities are something to be embraced and celebrated.

“I carry a lot of joy that I’ve been able to hold for both countries, one being my place of birth and one being my ancestral homelands,” the 36-year-old said.

To her, there is no choice between Australian or Egyptian loyalties, with the game being an opportunity to express her “genuine love and connection for both countries”.

“I have space in my heart for two very different identities, and they’re not in conflict with each other, they coexist, and that’s how I’ve been able to actually just embrace this opportunity.”

Eman Elhelw from Sydney’s inner west said the match posed a conundrum for Egyptian Australians.

“It’s like picking between your favourite children,” the 29-year-old, who believed both teams were evenly matched, said.

“Which makes it a lot harder to watch as someone who wants both of them to do really well.

“It does feel like I have all my eggs in one basket. I’ll die if it goes to penalties, it’s so nerve-wracking.”

Sarah Yassien, co-founder of the Lotus Association, which focuses on supporting the Egyptian diaspora, was not concerned about divided loyalties because “culture is complex”.

“Patriotism can be complex as well. You can love something deeply and equally care about another culture deeply, and so I think you find joy in all of it,” she said.

“Australia gives you your home, your family, your livelihood, your work, the society that you’re in, and Egypt gives you the culture in which you see the world. So it’s actually really beautiful to be able to see them both together.”

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