The Palestinian Gaza Strip is gearing up for the 2014 football World Cup.

People are eager to seize this opportunity to release their ongoing sufferings caused by the seven-year Israeli blockade and the internal political strife.

Over a month ago, coffee shops, sportswear stores and fans have well prepared for the world's most important sports event, which kicks off on Thursday and concludes on July 13.

Cafes and restaurants overlooking the Gaza beach and those locates in the downtown are hanging national flags of the countries participating in the tournament.

Sportswear stores are showcasing uniforms of foreign national teams, including the world cup host Brazil, as well as Argentina, Spain, Germany and Algiers, the only Arab state participating in the World Cup.

Eager football fans have also prepared themselves to follow the international event. Despite the high prices of the paid sports channels, many Palestinians have bought the new receiver to watch their favorite games.

The special sports viewing card plus the new receiver with one-year subscription costs 300 U.S. dollars.

Emad Habboush, a satellite shop owner, said, "Most of Gaza youths follow soccer, it is sport number one here. The World Cup is widely followed in Gaza, it is considered one of the event that help people get some relief."

Mohammed Ali, client of the satellite company, said, "We wait for the World Cup eagerly, it comes once in four years, even people who are not real fans of football love to watch the World Cup matches. Despite the dire economic situation, I will buy the receiver."

The majority of soccer fans in Gaza cannot afford the new receiver and viewing card. But this does not mean they won't be able to watch the games. Cafe shops can solve the problem.

Most of the soccer fans plan to follow the games at restaurants and cafe shops where they don't have to pay much due to the deteriorating economic conditions of the poverty-stricken coastal enclave. All they need is around two U.S dollars for each person.

Football fans can reserve their seats at cafeterias which would be busy and overcrowded with football lovers.

Fans believe the atmosphere at cafe shops is more energetic for such an event as competitive fans make the place feel like a real stadium.

In Gaza, fans are in love with Brazil. Most of Gazans hope that the host of the World Cup would win the title. However, quite a good number believe that Spain can make it too or at least get the second the second place.

Abu Wasim Saleh, a football fan, said, "I hope that Spain could win the title. I have already reserved my seat at a cafe shop since I cannot afford to buy the new receiver. Sitting will at most cost me three U.S dollars."

BeIN, the company which has exclusive right to broadcast the championship in Middle-East, started to use a new receiver to prevent illegal decoding of its channels.

Although it is expensive for the majority of Gaznas, demand for the new subscription is increasing, reflecting the Palestinians' love to such event.

Unlike those who prefer to watch the matches at cafe shops, many Palestinians believe that watching such a great event can only be at home.

Amru Shawwa is one of those who spent more than half of his monthly salary to buy the new receiver. The young man did not complain and paid the money without thinking twice.

"The World Cup is the most important sport event in the world, it is worth buying the new device. I support Argentina and wish from my heart that they will win the Cup. I expect that Algiers and Switzerland would be the black horses in the competition," he said.