While many of the World Cup鈥檚 competing nations are wracked by social divisions, some of their teams offer strikingly positive examples of how players from different backgrounds and religious faiths can cooperate closely in pursuit of a common goal.
The phenomenon is particularly notable among Western European teams, which for most of soccer鈥檚 history were overwhelmingly white and Christian. As those societies have increasingly diversified, so have the national team rosters 鈥� featuring Christian and Muslim players who are open about their faith.
England鈥檚 national squad, for the first time, includes a Muslim player. has multiple players from Protestant, Catholic and Muslim backgrounds. Spain鈥檚 emerging superstar, 18-year-old , is a practicing Muslim. So is Sweden鈥檚 Yasin Ayari, who prostrated himself on the field to thank God after the first of his two goals in a 鈥� his father鈥檚 homeland.
All four of those nations 鈥� like several others in Europe 鈥� have experienced related to the arrival of large numbers of Muslim immigrants. Does the diversity of the World Cup teams send a potentially helpful message?
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥� said Eboo Patel, who 鈥� as president of Interfaith America 鈥� advocates for religious pluralism and cooperation. 鈥淚t is symbolic yet also substantive.鈥�
He evoked the images of Christian players crossing themselves, and Muslim players cupping their hands in prayer. Their message, Patel said, is, 鈥淢y identity really matters to me and it makes me a better soccer player.鈥�
鈥淭hey score, they each say their respective prayers, and then they鈥檙e hugging each other,鈥� he added. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e cooperating to build a community and a team. 鈥� It鈥檚 not a contrived television ad or a condescending afterschool special. It鈥檚 the way you build an excellent soccer team.鈥�
These are some of the World Cup players whose openness about their faith has drawn attention:
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
By far the best known of Egypt鈥檚 players, is a Sunni Muslim who practices his faith openly, on and off the field. After scoring goals, he often prostrates himself to give thanks to God. His positive impact has been tangible: After he joined Liverpool in the Premier League, that anti-Muslim tweets by fans dropped by half.
Luka Modri膰 (Croatia)
Playing in his fifth World Cup, is set to surpass 200 international appearances during the tournament. A Catholic, Modri膰 has often worn shin guards depicting Jesus and the Virgin Mary. A few days before he and his teammates traveled to the United States, they gathered to celebrate Mass at a chapel in the Croatian town of Icici.
Djed Spence (England)
Although the Football Association has not kept records of players’ religions, the BBC 鈥� among other news outlets 鈥� has identified Spence as the first Muslim to play for the senior England team. A fullback with Tottenham, Spence played six times for England鈥檚 under-21 squad. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to make history and hopefully inspire young kids around the world that they can make it as well,鈥� Spence told the BBC. 鈥淭hey can do what I am doing.鈥�
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Yamal, a Muslim whose father is Moroccan, attracted headlines worldwide when he during Barcelona鈥檚 celebrations after it won the Spanish league in May. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick questioned the decision at the time; Israel鈥檚 defense minister, Israel Katz, later criticized Yamal by saying he was inciting 鈥渉ate.鈥�
Marc Gu茅hi (England)
The son of a Christian minister in London, Gu茅hi, 25, is playing his first season with Manchester City and was selected to be one of England鈥檚 defenders for the World Cup. While captain at his previous club Crystal Palace, Gu茅hi by writing religious messages on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion. Gu茅hi avoided punishment, though the FA prohibits players from displaying religious messages.
Aimar Sher (Iraq)
Religious minorities have long faced persecution in Iraq. Yet this year鈥檚 World Cup team includes Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and several Christians 鈥� notable since is estimated to have fallen from 1.5 million in 2003 to about 150,000 now. One of those Christians, midfielder Aimar Sher, has eagerly shared his faith, posting photos on social media of him wearing an 鈥淚 Belong to Jesus鈥� T-shirt.
Christian Pulisic (US)
has spoken openly about his Christian faith and often wears a cross necklace given by his mother. He has led team Bible studies; his Instagram posts have included photos of the Bible, showing passages he has underlined. Several of Pulisic鈥檚 teammates also are open about their Christian faith, including Weston McKennie and goalkeeper Matt Freese. McKennie鈥檚 Instagram bio contains just four words: 鈥淎ll glory to God.鈥�
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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