Albert Samaha

Albert Samaha

@samaha.bsky.social

journalist & author of “Concepcion” & “Never Ran, Never Will” / albertcsamaha@gmail.com / https://samaha.substack.com/

1K followers46 following124 posts

Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Alex Eala’s fans are an unstoppable force of Filipino joy blasting into an immovable wall of tennis tradition. “Sorry we’re loud,” read a sign at this year’s U.S. Open. “We’re Filipino.” My dispatch from last night: wapo.st/4h67Eqj

wapo.stAt U.S. Open, a Filipina star’s boisterous fans test tennis’s staid etiquetteAlexandra Eala, the first player from the Philippines to advance past the opening round of a Grand Slam, has been drawing Filipinos to her matches around the world.
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Why do so many Filipinos come out to support Alex Eala? Fans I spoke with cited the virtues of kapwa and bayanihan — products of a history that has left us hungry for solidarity. Wrote about the roots of Eala mania 🇵🇭 for the @newyorker.com : www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

newyorker.comHow Alex Eala Became a Symbol of the PhilippinesAt only 21, the tennis phenom Alex Eala is likely already the best-ever player from Southeast Asia. Now she is seeking her first Grand Slam title at this summer’s U.S. Open.
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

How are visiting soccer fans experiencing their World Cup vacation in Trump’s America? I spoke with more than 100 fans from more than a dozen countries, including some on the travel ban list. Here’s my story in @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/sports/world...

newyorker.comHow Tourists Are Experiencing Trump’s World CupAhead of its co-hosting duties, the U.S. imposed strict travel restrictions on dozens of countries, including four participating in the tournament. Here’s what millions of visiting soccer fans encount...
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

For World Cup countries on Trump’s travel ban, like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, diasporas have tried to “cheer twice as loud.” I reported on the absence of tourists from those places, & the experiences of those from elsewhere, for @newyorker.com: www.newyorker.com/sports/world...

newyorker.comHow Tourists Are Experiencing Trump’s World CupAhead of its co-hosting duties, the U.S. imposed strict travel restrictions on dozens of countries, including four participating in the tournament. Here’s what millions of visiting soccer fans encount...
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

As Mpasi puts together another masterpiece, here’s a story on him and other breakout keepers:

Albert Samaha@samaha.bsky.social

“Journeymen goalkeepers from African and Caribbean nations are becoming the breakout stars of this year’s tournament, standing strong against richer nations’ teams.” My story on World Cup underdogs: wapo.st/4xNT1hN

wapo.stThe old, unknown goalkeepers shutting down World Cup giantsJourneymen goalkeepers from African and Caribbean nations are becoming the breakout stars of this year’s tournament, standing strong against richer nations’ teams.
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Spoke to more than a dozen Senegal fans before the France match today — all immigrants living in the US or children of immigrants. Nearly everyone said they had family in Senegal who wanted to come but couldn’t due to the US tourist visa ban.

Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Fans from Senegal are famous for traveling in huge numbers with their national team. In NJ today, fewer than 10% of spectators were in Senegal green. But you could hear every one of them on this goal:

Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Ecuador fans far outnumber Côte d’Ivoire fans here in Philly, at least in part because of the US tourist visa ban. That means fewer chances for these fun moments of playful cross-cultural trash talk

Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social

Most of the Côte d’Ivoire fans I’ve spoken with are diaspora living in the US or Europe. One man from Abidjan had a visa from before the ban. Siahou, who immigrated to Philly when she was a teenager, said she’ll be cheering twice as loud to honor those who couldn’t come.