London, United Kingdom – Djed Spence knelt on the pitch and raised his hands skyward to thank God after England beat Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal on July 11, setting up a semifinal clash with archrivals Argentina. For millions watching, it was the first time an England international had offered Muslim prayers on the field on the biggest stage in football.
“Being the first Muslim player to represent the Three Lions, it meant everything. Something I’ve always wanted as a kid. But what makes me happy is a lot of kids can look at it and be inspired. I feel it’s bigger than me and it’s great for generations to come,” the 25-year-old defender said late last year. Spence sustained a broken jaw against Chelsea in May 2026 and has worn a carbon-fibre mask during the tournament.
Spence’s rise this World Cup – coming off the bench, absorbing pressure from his manager, growing into his place in defence – has made him the first Muslim to represent England’s senior men’s team. Germany, France and Spain have had Muslim internationals for years, making this milestone feel long overdue to many. “When I found out he was Muslim, I just liked him even more,” said Zain Gondal, a 23-year-old England fan in London.
Riz Rehman, a former footballer whose brother Zesh Rehman was the first Muslim to play in the English Premier League, met Spence through his work at the Professional Footballers’ Association. “He’s new to the faith,” Rehman said, explaining that Spence converted to Islam a couple of years ago. “He’s a role model, and he must continue doing what he’s doing, having a good character and keep inspiring others.”
Shabna Zaheer, founder of The Scene, a South Asian-led collective, said she hadn’t followed Spence closely before. “I didn’t actually know he was a revert until I saw the photo of him … putting his hands up,” she said. “We’ve never seen an English footballer do that.” However, she expressed nervousness about media scrutiny. Daniel Bennett, The Scene’s creative director, noted that representation matters at a time when Muslims are often discussed “through the lens of division or controversy.”
Mark Overall, a goalkeeping scout and coach, recalled coaching a youth team in Southall that trained through Ramadan without food or water. He has seen scouts overlook Asian and Muslim players for no good reason. But Spence’s solid run gives him cautious optimism: “It changes the mindset that anyone can make it to any level … it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are. Football’s a game for everyone.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com