‘A job mannequin’: Djed Spence, first Muslim England participant, lifts hopes | World Cup 2026 Information

London, United Kingdom – Djed Spence kneeled on the pitch and raised his fingers 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 provided Muslim prayers on the sector, on the most important stage in soccer.

“Being the primary Muslim participant to characterize the Three Lions, it meant the whole lot. One thing I’ve at all times wished as a child. However what makes me comfortable is numerous youngsters can take a look at it and be impressed. I really feel it’s greater than me and it’s nice for generations to come back,” the 25-year-old England defender mentioned 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.

“Once I discovered he was Muslim, I simply appreciated him much more,” mentioned Zain Gondal, a 23-year-old England fan in London who has adopted Spence’s run intently. He has a comfortable 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 assumed he was wonderful.”

‘He’s a task 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 schooling for workers, breaks to open quick – that males like Spence stroll into at the moment.

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

“He’s new to the religion,” Rehman mentioned, explaining that Spence transformed to Islam a few years in the past. “He’s a task mannequin, and he should proceed doing what he’s doing, having a superb character and hold 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 way. If something, it is going to really carry 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 could solely strengthen it,” he mentioned.

“It’s also necessary we don’t place the expectations of a whole group on one participant’s shoulders. There are at all times folks on the market on the lookout 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 intently earlier than. “I didn’t really know he was a revert till I noticed the photograph of him … placing his fingers up,” she mentioned. “We’ve by no means seen an English footballer try this.”

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

She has purpose to fret as a result of after an article about her screenings just lately went viral on Fb, the feedback largely advised Muslims to “combine” and to go to the pub in the event that they wished 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 “by means of 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 fake like this milestone second will abruptly change the whole lot.”

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

“The way in which that individuals view minorities is as a result of they’re fairly pissed off 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 General, a goalkeeping scout and coach, brings it again to who really will get scouted and picked within the first place.

He remembers a Southall youth crew he coached in 2014 coaching by means of 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 cross over Asian and Muslim gamers for what he bluntly known as, no good purpose.

“If they’d 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 stage and even on the academy stage, largely by the older scouts,” he mentioned.

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

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

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, 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.