‘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 tens of millions watching, it was the primary time an England worldwide had supplied Muslim prayers on the sector, on the most important stage in soccer.

“Being the primary Muslim participant to symbolize the Three Lions, it meant every little thing. One thing I’ve at all times needed as a child. However what makes me completely happy is a number of children can take a look at it and be impressed. I really feel it’s larger than me and it’s nice for generations to come back,” the 25-year-old England defender mentioned late final yr.

Spence sustained a damaged jaw towards Chelsea in Could 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 symbolize 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 favored him much more,” mentioned Zain Gondal, a 23-year-old England fan in London who has adopted Spence’s run carefully. He has a delicate spot for Muslim gamers as a result of “you’ll be able to see your self a bit in them”.

“Each time [Spence is] taking part in, he’s come on. He’s defended very 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 street 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 employees, breaks to open quick – that males like Spence stroll into in the present day.

He met Spence via 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 mentioned, 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 suppose this adjustments him as an individual in anyway. If something, it should truly deliver him even nearer to his faith,” mentioned 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 will probably solely strengthen it,” he mentioned.

“It’s also essential we don’t place the expectations of a whole group on one participant’s shoulders. There are at all times individuals on the market searching for faults in others, however we have to do not forget that everyone seems to be on their very own religion journey and Djed isn’t 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 centered on creating inclusive, alcohol-free areas for the group, has screenings throughout London this World Cup, drawing crowds of over 200 to a venue in Brixton.

She had not adopted Spence carefully earlier than. “I didn’t truly know he was a revert till I noticed the photograph of him … placing his arms up,” she mentioned. “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 a number of us additionally get a bit nervous once we see somebody do this, for what the media would possibly deliver in the direction of them.”

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

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

Illustration issues at a time when Muslims and minorities are sometimes mentioned “via the lens of division or controversy”, he mentioned, pointing to the racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the 2020 Euro closing. “I’m not going to faux like this milestone second will immediately change every little thing.”

Gondal agreed the boundaries are actual, and factors previous soccer solely.

“The way in which 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 give attention to 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 via Ramadan. Gamers ran hill classes 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 go over Asian and Muslim gamers for what he bluntly referred to as, no good motive.

“If that they had a selection 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 stage and even on the academy stage, principally by the older scouts,” he mentioned.

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

“It adjustments the mindset that anybody could make it to any stage … it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are. Soccer’s a recreation for everybody,” mentioned Total.

The second has even produced its personal folks footnote.

UK singer-songwriter Ben Cipolla has written the tribute tune “Complete Eclipse of Djed Spence” charting the participant’s journey from a mortgage spell at French membership Rennes to the England shirt, taking part in 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.