Updated ,first published
They’re not in de-Nile that 4am on a Saturday is an unusual time to drive across town to watch a soccer game.
But more than 80 expatriate Egyptians and their friends aren’t tut-tutting the idea.
Fanatic followers of the Pharaohs say they’re excited about heading to a university bar in Parkville before sunrise on Saturday to watch Egypt play Australia in the World Cup.
The Ida Bar is among many venues planning to host screenings of the match, live from Dallas in the US.
The Victorian government has granted all pubs in the state permission to open their doors for the game.
“Venues showing the broadcast can stay open all night and the last service will be an hour after the match ends,” a government spokesperson said.
The University of Melbourne Egyptian Club organised the screening at the Ida Bar and will come bearing Egyptian flags, jerseys and a cardboard cut-out of star player Mo Salah.
Mohamed Orabi, a masters of nursing science student from Giza in Egypt, says it is a particularly special event because the national team has reached the World Cup round of 32 for the first time and is playing Australia.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Orabi said. “It’s always fun because you remember the unorthodox events or gatherings that you have.”
Orabi predicts that Egypt will win, “because Salah is not injured any more, I don’t think, and we have [Mostafa] Shobeir as the goalkeeper.”
Orabi says that if he watched from home in St Kilda, “my neighbours would hate me, and it’s not the same as having 30 or 40 of your friends gathering, from both sides — people supporting Australia and Egypt. I’ve invited some of my non-Egyptian friends.”
Mariam El Meligi, a science student who migrated to Australia from Egypt in 2018 at age 13, says she will be happy if either the Socceroos or the Pharaohs win.
“It’s technically a win-win, either way,” El Meligi said.
While their parents will watch from home, El Meligi will drive her three younger siblings to the Ida Bar event, which is open to all.
It’s “definitely not” something she’d normally do, but “it’s really exciting”, El Meligi said. “I think sharing the moment with people who are willing to also get up and come to the city at that time, just amplifies the pleasure.”
A state government spokesperson said Federation Square and AAMI Park will open as live screening sites for the public, with AAMI Park offering a free breakfast for the first 10,000 fans.
“AAMI is your best bet if you want a free hot breakfast, a seat and some space,” the spokesperson said.
Among venues open at 4am Saturday in Melbourne are The Sporting Globe bars, and The Sun Theatre in Yarraville is hosting a free screening, but tickets must be booked via a City of Maribyrnong website.
In the southeast Narre Warren’s Bunjil Place will also screen the game, with free coffee for some.
Jay Shehada from Keif Cafe, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Abbotsford that will also open, said sitting indoors would beat standing at public outdoor sites where it might be cold, raining and windy.
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