Recently, war-weary Syria has welcomed a myriad of good news. After reclaiming major cities in the north. Hope for Syria's national football team getting a ticket for the World Cup next year has brought the country together again. Our correspondent Alaa Ebrahim brings you the story.

 

For a while on Tuesday, it felt a bit like a curfew in Damascus. But this time it wasn’t the threat of violence that kept people off the streets. It was a football match. Almost everyone was either home or out watching the Syria national team game against Iran. nThe question facing fans: would the Asian qualifying game put Syria closer to getting a ticket for the World Cup in Russia next year. It would be first in the history of Syrian sports.

 

SAMI, RESIDENT OF DAMASCUS "we will support our team to qualify to world cup and whether we win or lose we support our team."

 

ABDO, FOOTBALL FAN "This is a great day already since ISIL siege on Deir az-Zour was broken and we are optimistic with more good news from out national team."

 

The Syrian football team fairy tale season is not without politics. Syria got here by beating Qatar. Relations between the two countries have seen better times. nThe game also pit Syria against its battlefield ally Iran. Some of the players on the Syrian team are outspoken opposition government activists playing on the national team.

 

NASHWA "I came here to watch the game and celebrate as this is a national pride."

 

HAMADA "our team has managed to unify all Syrians behind it despite all."

 

OUMIMA "this is a reason for joy for the whole country , and this team represents Syria and all Syrians all kinds and affiliations."

 

Restaurant owners offered free drinks and desserts, and a local airline gave away free tickets to bring football enthusiasts to Tehran to cheer the national team. Mega screens were set up for public viewing as football fever takes over. And when the first goal came, the crowd erupted in cheers and in the end, the match with Iran ended in a 2-2 tie.

 

ALAA EBRAHIM, DAMASCUS "The game denies Syria a direct ticket to the World Cup in Moscow in 2018 but finishing in third in its group keeps the team’s hopes alive :If Syria wins the next two matches then it can still go all the way to the finals. But regardless of the score, the match was a chance to remind many Syrians what brings them together and hopes for a better future in the war-weary nation. Alaa Ebrahim- CGTN - Damascus."