Over the past 4 weeks, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has captured attention around the world, driving headlines, buzzing across social media, and sparking conversation in daily life. Millions around the globe are intensely following and fixated on this event, perhaps as a respite from their daily lives in a world plagued by continuous economic and political crises. In Canada, the government has spent over 1 billion dollars of taxpayer’s money to co-host this event.

The FIFA World Cup is the premier men’s international football tournament, held every four years This year it is co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. National teams compete for the much-coveted championship title. This football competition is marketed to the public as a positive unifying global event. However, many critics point to the fact that the tournament also plays a significant political role considering its massive global influence and FIFA’s cozy relationship with political and business elites. As Muslims, we need to ask ourselves, what is the Islamic perspective on sports entertainment? What messages and values are being promoted within the Ummah?

FIFA’s Corruption

Phrases used by FIFA like “Unite for Peace” frame the sport as something that can bring together different nations, cultures, and communities. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has even stated that, “Football is more than a game. It is a force for unity, peace and hope.”

When we take a closer look at such a claim, it is very easy to see that far from being a beneficial international sporting organization, FIFA is mired in a deep history of corruption and scandals, as well as being instrumental in stoking nationalistic tensions between various nations. And above all, FIFA is a money-making machine for the capitalist elite.

In 2015, top FIFA officials were indicted on bribery, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering charges involving FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives. Late last year, FIFA President, Infantino, awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, praising his role in promoting peace and international cooperation. This farce happened just before the US military operations in Venezuela, the drum up to the ongoing attacks on Iran, and in the backdrop of the US-Zionist coalition’s crimes in Palestine! However, no amount of “sportswashing” of the host-nations, chief among them the US, will bring any respite to the entire populations suffering under the US-led brutal wars, global capitalist corruption, or the oppressive US-backed tyrants, especially in the Muslim world.

Re-injecting ‘Asabiyyah (Nationalism) Through Sports

FIFA’s official campaign slogan is “Football Unites the World.” It argues that football is a shared experience that connects different people and promotes common causes. However, the reality is that when sport teams are built on the idea of nation states and ethnic background, it is not uncommon to see some people’s blind loyalties to one’s own country leading to racism, discrimination and even violence around and during sport events. This is especially the case in the Muslim lands where the colonial powers promoted the idea of national sovereignty throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, and then fooled the Ummah into accepting – and even fighting for – false “independent” nation-states now numbering over 50 countries. Such artificial divisions only lead to tensions between Muslims over a game of football, when we are in fact one Ummah.

The Muslim regimes emphasize and amplify nationalism and patriotism within their area of control. In order to keep Muslims bound by their racial, ethnic, tribal and geographical loyalties these regimes use every tool available to them, including:

• Sports and Entertainment – the Muslim regimes, when national teams are playing each other in games such as football, incite nationalistic emotions resulting in vehement attacks of fans on the other teams and their fans.
• Independence Day – Every Muslim country spends great amount of effort, energy and enthusiasm in celebrating the day of its so-called freedom from colonial occupation when in fact the Kufr thoughts and laws still govern us.
• Wars between Muslim countries – There have been countless disputes and wars in the recent past between Muslim countries including Iran and Iraq, Kurdish Muslims and Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These wars only stress the existence of the artificial borders created by the colonial powers.

It is no surprise to see the enthusiastic participation of the rulers in the Muslim lands such as Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt or King Abdullah of Jordan at these sporting events and their staunch support of the national teams. The common enemy of these rulers is how only Islam can bind Muslims to one another based on the Aqeedah of Islam, irrespective of one’s country of origin, ethnic background or race. RasulAllah (saw) clearly prohibited ‘asabiyyah (nationalism):

“He is not one of us who calls of ‘asabiyyah or who fights for ‘asabiyyah or who dies for ‘asabiyyah.” [Abu Dawud]

Putting the World in Context

The Muslim Ummah, which was once the leading nation of the world, now faces a terrible situation. Our Deen is under attack, the conflicts and genocide in Sudan and Gaza are ongoing and we are divided into more than 50 insignificant states. Our rulers sell our labour and mineral wealth for next to nothing. In fact, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it is estimated that Qatar squandered up to $220 billion of the Ummah’s wealth hosting the games. The worst part of our current situation is that the Islamic Aqeedah has ceased to be the reference frame in societal affairs in the Muslim lands.

What sporting tournaments, such as FIFA tournaments or IOC games, do is not only strengthen nationalistic loyalties and amplify divisive tendencies, but also add another avenue for the Ummah to being thrown into frivolous pursuits that consume us, distracting us from the serious task of bringing awareness to the vital issues that affect us as Muslims and working to rebuild this Ummah to take our rightful position as the leading nation of the world. Hence, we witness with sadness a situation where Muslims are totally absorbed by nationalistic pride in supporting football, basketball, and cricket teams in national and international tournaments while our lands are occupied, Muslim blood is being shed and our honour is violated.

The Islamic Ruling on Distractions

It should be made clear that watching or playing sports such as football is not haram (impermissible) in itself, however as an aware Muslim, we should take caution of the broader implications of this Hukm shari. There are some kinds of Lahw (entertainment) that are Halal and Mubah (permissible), like sports that achieve a result, such as target shooting, swimming, racing (on foot or mount), wrestling, and the like. These forms of Lahw are Halal as long as they do not cause one to neglect his/her obligations. 

Imam Al-Shaatibi says, “Lahw, entertainment, and vacancy from any work is Mubah (permissible) if it does not involve forbidden matters or occupy one from an obligated matter.” And he adds “But he is blameworthy and the scholars did not agree with it (i.e. they did not like it), rather they would hate to see a man who was not busy with either improving his livelihood or improving his Afterlife, for he had wasted a period of time which was not used to gain any good for this world nor for the afterlife.”

And there are some matters of Lahw that are haram (forbidden). These include betting, gambling, and being occupied with permissible Lahw to the point where one neglects their obligations. The last example is Haram because of the principle: Anything that leads to Haram is itself Haram. For example, Lahw that would keep one away from Salat on time or from the obligated fasting would be Haram. Also, the Lahw that incites nationalistic pride in one’s people or land or distracts people from the obligation of carrying the da’wa and re-establishing the Islamic authority (Khilafah) would also be Haram.

Our Attitude Towards Organized Distractions

The Ummah must fully understand the nature of organized distractions such as the FIFA World Cup and take on our role in facing this serious danger that is targeting the most valuable wealth we possess – Islam. We must become precisely aware of those who are behind these distractions and know exactly how to confront them. 

For example, while the July 11th quarter-final match between two Europeans teams, England and Norway, had a record breaking 18 million viewers, that sporting event coincided with the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre in Europe, when Serb forces entered the enclave of Srebrenica, designated as a ‘safe zone’ by the UN during the Bosnian war, and subsequently executed 8000 Muslim men and boys in cold blood. Organized distractions must be shunned, and those distractions that are Mubah should be set aside in favor of endeavors that improve our status in Akhirah.

Muslims must strive, like the Sahabah (ra) – with seriousness and thought – to re-establish the authority of Islam in the Muslim lands and return to ruling by what Allah (swt) has revealed. We should shun frivolous endeavors, whether computer games, spectator sports, or any other form of organized distractions which surround us today. Instead of longing for victory and pride in meaningless sporting events played under a corrupt organization like FIFA or the IOC, we must turn our attention to the true victory which is the return of this Ummah to its position of strength and dignity; and above all else, we must yearn for the meeting with Allah (swt) while He is pleased with us. This goal requires seriousness, perseverance, and shunning the plans of the colonial powers.

We ask Allah (swt) to make us among those who are aware of the importance of time and are serious about the pursuit of the Akhirah. We also ask Him to help this Ummah to rise to its greatest duty of being a witness over mankind.

“It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and you be witnesses for mankind!” [22:78]