It’s just a game. It offers no solutions to many of the struggles of everyday life. It does not cure illnesses or solve major geopolitical issues. And yet, football has broken through barriers, it has nurtured friendships, challenged outdated ideologies and even offered brief respites from war. No matter your cultural background, gender or belief-system, football gives you the chance to express yourself and connect with others through the universal language of human movement accompanied by a few basic elements - the ball, a pitch, two teams.

The Kingdom of Jordan, like all of FIFA’s 211 member associations, believes in this power of football, which is why the Middle East nation rallied, invested and laboured for years to deliver the biggest sports event of their history and the first ever FIFA women’s football tournament in the region – the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.

On 30 September, as fans filled the 17,351 available seats at Amman International Stadium for the tournament’s opening ceremony, 250 unassuming girls shuffled excitedly into their seats among the crowd. On the pitch in front of them, 11 young women wearing Jordan’s national team jerseys were embarking on their first ever World Cup experience. Meanwhile, just a few rows behind them, Spain legend and 2010 FIFA World Cup™ winner Xavi was waving and smiling.

The football story for these unknown 250 girls starts back in August, when the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trophy visited the Al Zaatari Refugee Camp as part of an official nationwide tour. Al Zaatari, established in 2012 to provide shelter to thousands of Syrian refugees, is a sober reminder of the challenges facing the Middle East as armed conflict continues to tear apart homes, families and strip thousands of Syrians of basic human rights and dignities. Al Zaatari’s football loving girls were ecstatic about the distraction the trophy visit provided. At the day’s end, they headed back to their temporary homes. Even this young, they were aware that the tournament was something that would happen outside the camp, in some other reality unavailable to them.

Leaving the camp is currently an almost impossible exercise, and many of Al Zataari’s citizens have never done so. Thanks to the support of the Jordanian Authorities, FIFA, the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), the UEFA Foundation and the Jordan 2016 Local Organizing Committee, the 250 football loving girls of Al Zaatari were able to do the unexpected - attend Jordan’s opening match at the Amman International Stadium.

"'It's the first time I'm able to get out of the refugee camp," said Raghda, sitting next to two of her younger friends. "I feel like I want to fly high from happiness."

''When I came here on the bus I was thinking about how I will enjoy this game." said Haneen, ''I will never ever forget this in my life."

It was a small gesture and a simple day in the greater context of their lives, but for the girls, the chance to be a part of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, to watch young women play international football, to cheer and sing and forget the weight of problems forced upon their small young shoulders for a brief 90-minute interlude, was significant.

"Freedom and peace, that's all I want." Haneen told FIFA.com. Laila quickly interrupted her twin sister, to add her own wish. "I dream of becoming a football player one day," she said. "I want to be the captain of the team and be able to play like the girls on the pitch."

‘’These children have lost everything, they are confined in refugee camps everyday under very difficult conditions, but today is different. Today they are football fans just like everyone else here cheering in the stadium. Today, they can feel free,” said Honey Thaljieh, FIFA’s Corporate Communications manager. As the co-founder and captain of Palestine’s first ever women’s national football team, Honey is well aware of the barriers facing young women in the Middle East and the profound impact sport can play in shaping a young girls character and future. “This is the power of football in integrating people and bringing them together, regardless of their conditions. Our message is loud and clear, football is for all,” added Honey.

In an effort to help spread football throughout the Kingdom, FIFA and the Jordan Football Association announced on the opening day that for every goal scored during the tournament, 150 footballs will be donated to vulnerable communities across the country. The joint-initiative by FIFA and the Jordan Football Association, with the support of the Asian Football Development Project and adidas, aims to simply offer that first step – the ball, to anyone wanting to play.

The preparations; the social initiatives; the financial investment in facilities; the efforts of football’s world governing body and a Local Organising Committee comprised mainly of Jordanian women, have kick-started something. The beginnings of what the JFA and FIFA believe will be a long and rich legacy in the region, shaping the future of football for all men and women in Jordan and the Middle East.</s>The FIFA 17 demo has been with us for a little while now and while it will take some getting used to, it’s certainly very familiar.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a whole host of new features- The spot kick systems have all had complete overhauls, which can be read about in more detail in this review of the demo.

FIFA 17 will also run on the Frostbite engine for the first time, which has supposedly changed how players move and react in every single way.

This is all very interesting but the most important thing about FIFA 17 is that you can hit the dab.

Not sure what that means? Where have you been?

Educate yourself via the medium of gif.

Fortunately, the dab is very straightforward.

Once you've bagged a worldie, all you have to do is hold R1 or RB and double-tap either Triangle or Y button.

This will see you pull off what is comfortably the most famous celebration in world football.</s>Ahead of their group phase clash with Brazil tomorrow, at the 5th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingoes resumed training on Wednesday afternoon at the Al Wehdat Training Field, Amman with all 21 players participating actively. The girls were also scheduled to train at the same venue thursday.

The Nigeria team had arrived Amman on Tuesday morning, after flying from Abuja to Dubai and connecting another Emirates Airline flight from Dubai to the Jordanian capital.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials of world football –governing body FIFA conducted the team arrival meeting where Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was presented with Nigeria’s plaque and all the players were given Certificate of Participation. Also at the team arrival meeting, every member of the team was accredited, while various issues on the tournament like venue contact information, stadium and training facilities, pre and post match conferences and laws of the game were discussed in detail.

The 5th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will start today. A total of 16 countries will battle for honours in the three Jordanian cities of Amman, Irbid and Al Zarqa.</s>Ghana made a disastrous start to their FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup campaign after suffering a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of defending champions Japan on Saturday.

Riko Ueki fired the Young Nadeshiko into an early lead on seven minutes.

Jun Endo then scored two quickfire goals to spring Japan into a 3-0 lead and five minutes later, Saori Takarada got on the scoresheet.</s>Holders Japan defeated Ghana 5-0 on matchday two of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup at the Prince Mohammed International Stadium in Zarqa.

U-17 Women’s World Cup holders Japan were too much to handle for perennial tournament participants Ghana from the start. Riko Ueki fired the Young Nadeshiko into an early lead on seven minutes taking Japan’s goals tally in the history of the tournament to 80, the most of any nation.

Jun Endo then scored two quickfire goals to spring Japan into a 3-0 lead. Endo’s first strike was particularly impressive as she scored with a well-struck, left-footed effort to find the top opposite corner. Japan never looked like they were going to slow down with wave after wave in attack overwhelming Ghana’s frazzled defensive line.

Five minutes after Endo’s second, it was Saori Takarada’s turn to get on the scoresheet. After superb work on the right wing, Riko Ueki evaded her defenders and made space for herself before looking up and finding Takarada with a perfect cross and Ueki made no mistake with a firm header that sailed past Ghana keeper Barikisu Issahaku.

It wasn’t until the last quarter of an hour in the first half that Ghana were able to catch their breath and prevent Japan from creating any clear goalscoring opportunities. That carried into the second half as Ghana almost held Japan to a goalless 45 minutes until Remina Chiba made it five late on.

In the end, it was a comfortable win for the holders as they claim three points early in Group D play ahead of matches against Paraguay and USA later in the tournament.

Ghana is the only African nation to have reached the semi-finals in the tournament’s history, so coach Evans Adotey and his team will be needing to bounce back from the defeat, starting with their meeting with USA on Tuesday, if they are going to replicate or better that performance.</s>Women of the World will meet on Monday, October 10, 2016, at noon, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main Street, Orono. Traditional Cuban food will be served, and a presentation will follow the meal.

Volunteers are needed to help set up at 11:15 am and for clean up after the meal.

WOW is a group of international women, including Americans, who gather once a month around an ethnic lunch; a cultural program featuring the country/theme represented usually follows. WOW is a great place to meet women from around the world and the perfect opportunity to learn about other cultures and discover new cuisine. Lunch fees: women and children over 10: $5, children 6-10: $2.00; children under 6, no cost to attend with their mother.

Lunches are held at noon at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main Street, Orono.

For more information on WOW, please call Mireille Le Gal at 581-3423.

WOW is sponsored by the Office of International Programs at the University of Maine

This post was contributed by a community member. Submit your news →</s>THE St John Ambulance and Pacific International Hospital will provide ambulance services during the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Port Moresby form Nov 13-Dec 3.

 The various trips and meetings by the Fifa medical team to the country since early this year have culminated to the signing of a service agreement with the two medical organisations.

 Local organising committee chief executive officer, Seamus Marten said in order to meet Fifa requirements and standards, the LOC would be purchasing medical equipment to provide to St John to use and they would then be kept to use after the tournament to serve the residents of Port Moresby.

 “St John has been a long-time supporter of football in PNG so we feel this is appropriate.

 “The tournament will leave behind a legacy and one of them is through the purchase of medical equipment that will be used by St John for the general public after the tournament,” he said.

 St John provide nine Australian paramedics and 60 volunteers to provide services to the teams and spectators at both the match and training venues, including team hotels.

 PIH will be providing two fully-equipped emergency ambulances to operate at the venues on match days. They will also be on stand-by for emergency calls if required.
2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, the first ever FIFA women’s football tournament in the Middle East, kicks off in Jordan.