‘A role model’: Djed Spence, first Muslim England player, lifts hopes | World Cup 2026 News

London, United Kingdom – Djed Spence kneeled on the pitch and raised his arms skyward to thank God after England beat Norway within the World Cup quarterfinal.

The July 11 match arrange Wednesday’s semifinal date with England’s archrivals Argentina. For thousands and thousands watching, it was the primary time an England worldwide had provided Muslim prayers on the sphere, on the largest stage in soccer.

“Being the primary Muslim participant to characterize the Three Lions, it meant all the things. One thing I’ve at all times wished as a child. However what makes me comfortable is plenty of children can take a look at it and be impressed. I really feel it’s greater than me and it’s nice for generations to return,” the 25-year-old England defender stated late final 12 months.

Spence sustained a damaged jaw in opposition to Chelsea in Might 2026, and has worn a carbon-fibre masks throughout this event.

Spence’s rise this World Cup – coming off the bench, absorbing strain from his supervisor, rising into his place in defence – has made him the primary Muslim to characterize England’s senior males’s crew. Germany, France and Spain, England’s closest European rivals, have had Muslim internationals for years. For England, this milestone feels lengthy overdue to many.

“After I discovered he was Muslim, I simply appreciated him much more,” stated Zain Gondal, a 23-year-old England fan in London who has adopted Spence’s run intently. He has a tender spot for Muslim gamers as a result of “you may see your self a bit in them”.

“Each time [Spence is] enjoying, he’s come on. He’s defended rather well … I believed he was superb.”

‘He’s a job mannequin’

Riz Rehman, an ex-footballer, whose brother Zesh Rehman was the primary Muslim footballer to play within the English Premier League, is aware of the highway that led right here higher than most.

He spent 15 years on the UK’s Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation (PFA) constructing the scaffolding – prayer rooms, Ramadan training for workers, breaks to open quick – that males like Spence stroll into at the moment.

He met Spence by that work on the defender’s membership, Tottenham Hotspur, sitting with him throughout Ramadan after his return from damage.

“He’s new to the religion,” Rehman stated, explaining that Spence transformed to Islam a few years in the past. “He’s a job mannequin, and he should proceed doing what he’s doing, having character and maintain inspiring others.”

The 2 exchanged numbers; Rehman has messaged him earlier than and after matches since.

“I don’t assume this modifications him as an individual in any respect. If something, it should truly deliver him even nearer to his faith,” stated Rehman.

“Djed’s England journey is about extra than simply soccer. It’s a reminder to younger Muslim gamers and households throughout the UK that your religion and faith doesn’t restrict ambition; it may possibly solely strengthen it,” he stated.

“Additionally it is essential we don’t place the expectations of a complete neighborhood on one participant’s shoulders. There are at all times folks on the market in search of faults in others, however we have to keep in mind that everyone seems to be on their very own religion journey and Djed is not any exception.”

There are others who’re solely attending to know Spence and his footballing prowess.

Shabna Zaheer, who based The Scene, a South Asian-led collective targeted on creating inclusive, alcohol-free areas for the neighborhood, has screenings throughout London this World Cup, drawing crowds of over 200 to a venue in Brixton.

She had not adopted Spence intently earlier than. “I didn’t truly know he was a revert till I noticed the picture of him … placing his arms up,” she stated. “We’ve by no means seen an English footballer do this.”

The popularity arrived tangled with dread. “I simply hope it goes effectively, as a result of plenty of us additionally get a bit nervous after we see somebody do this, for what the media would possibly deliver in the direction of them.”

She has cause to fret as a result of after an article about her screenings lately went viral on Fb, the feedback largely informed Muslims to “combine” and to go to the pub in the event that they wished to socialize.

Daniel Bennett, The Scene’s inventive director, sees hope regardless of the nervousness.

Illustration issues at a time when Muslims and minorities are sometimes mentioned “by the lens of division or controversy”, he stated, pointing to the racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the 2020 Euro ultimate. “I’m not going to faux like this milestone second will out of the blue change all the things.”

Gondal agreed the bounds are actual, and factors previous soccer totally.

“The best way that individuals view minorities is as a result of they’re fairly annoyed with how the nation is in the meanwhile. However that’s all to do with politics; soccer can’t actually repair that,” warned the younger England fan. “It’s on the politicians to make the nation higher, as a result of they’re those, like [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage, forcing these opinions onto others.”

Bennett and Rehman deal with what a Muslim worldwide would possibly change within the wider tradition. However Mark Total, a goalkeeping scout and coach, brings it again to who truly will get scouted and picked within the first place.

He remembers a Southall youth crew he coached in 2014 coaching by Ramadan. Gamers ran hill periods with out meals or water – a formative expertise of his profession. He was impressed and impressed by that group’s work ethic. But he has watched older scouts move over Asian and Muslim gamers for what he bluntly known as, no good cause.

“If that they had a alternative between a white, Christian participant and somebody from India or Pakistan, they’d at all times go for the white lad. There’s a little little bit of racism nonetheless on the grassroots degree and even on the academy degree, largely by the older scouts,” he stated.

However Spence’s stable run in England’s World Cup marketing campaign offers him cause to be cautiously optimistic.

“It modifications the mindset that anybody could make it to any degree … it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are. Soccer’s a sport for everybody,” stated Total.

The second has even produced its personal folks footnote.

UK singer-songwriter Ben Cipolla has written the tribute track “Complete Eclipse of Djed Spence” charting the participant’s journey from a mortgage spell at French membership Rennes to the England shirt, enjoying on his surname for a nod to the 80s hit “Complete Eclipse of the Coronary heart”.

Spence’s story has already travelled effectively past the pitch.