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World Cup squads showcase faith and unity amid deep social divisions at home
Players across several squads are openly expressing faith as teams reflect religious diversity and national tensions over immigration and identity.
Players at the ongoing World Cup are openly displaying religious faith, with athletes from diverse Christian and Muslim backgrounds integrating personal beliefs into their performance on the field.
Sweden's Yasin Ayari, 18, prostrated himself to thank God after scoring against Tunisia on Sunday; Spain's Lamine Yamal, a practicing Muslim, similarly expresses his faith during matches.
United States forward Christian Pulisic wears a cross necklace, while Croatia's Luka Modri displays shin guards depicting Jesus and England's Marc defies Football Association rules on religious messages.
Interfaith America president Eboo Patel notes these gestures are symbolic and substantive, explaining, "My identity really matters to me and it makes me a better soccer player."
Iraq's World Cup squad features Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and Christians, notable given the country's Christian population fell from 1.5 million in 2003 to about 150,000, reflecting broader demographic shifts across Europe.
While many of the nations competing in the World Cup are shaken by social divisions, some of their teams offer surprisingly positive examples of how players from different religious backgrounds and creeds can cooperate closely in the pursuit of a common goal.