With drums thundering and flags swirling, fans at the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup revelled in the rare chance to see their often-disputed homelands take their place on the international stage.
The tournament, being contested in London by 16 sovereign nations, partially-recognised states, minorites and peoples outside the auspices of football's official governing body FIFA, got off to a raucous start Thursday.
Fans of Tibet and Abkhazia streamed to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in north London.
It may have a majestic name, but the 3,000-capacity 1950s athletics ground on Donkey Lane, the home of seventh-tier club Enfield Town, epitomises semi-professional English football -- with a burger stand, an ice cream van and a tiny club shop selling programmes through a hatch.
However, for the 300-odd fans who turned up, it was the biggest sporting stage they could hope to see their homelands on.
- Hopes for recognition -
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"We are a normal country. The only difference is recognition."
"If we lose, its OK: at least Tibet is out here."
- Cattle battle -
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"I think we can do better in the next game. The boys are very spirited for the sake of our country."
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