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England will take a knee and captain Harry Kane will wear the One Love armband in their opening match Globalism Football manager Gareth Southgate confirmed the trophy against Iran on Monday.
England have kneeled before matches since 2020, initially in solidarity with protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer and then in support of equality.
The gesture is no longer a feature before the Premier League kicks off, as it is used selectively, but Southgate believes it is important that his side continue to do so at the World Cup.
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“It’s what we stand for as a team and we’ve been doing it for a long time,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“We feel this is the biggest (stage) and we think it’s a powerful statement that will go around the world for young people, in particular, to see that inclusivity is so important.”
Kane, along with the captains of the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales, will wear the One Love armband on Monday.
The armband represents support for equality, and while it is not aimed solely at the rights of the LGBTQ community, it is important in Qatar where homosexuality is illegal.
FIFA, the world’s governing body for soccer, takes a dim view of political statements and, according to reports, could punish those who wear the One Love badge with fines or disciplinary action.
However, Kane said he would wear one.
Keane said: “We’ve made it clear as a team, staff and organisation, that we want to wear the armband. The FA is talking to FIFA at the moment and I’m sure that by the time of the game tomorrow we will have made it their decision.”
Southgate has become accustomed to grappling with social issues in his time as England manager, and once again Sunday’s media conference crossed the field of play.
In a question from an Iranian reporter that lasted several minutes, the former defender was asked if he supported the protesters against the Iranian regime, an issue supported by some Iranian players.
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“I don’t feel well-informed enough to comment on what’s happening in Iran, and I don’t think it’s really appropriate to comment on that,” Southgate said.
“I think the players and the Iranian coach (Carlos Queiroz), I understand them, they’re in a difficult situation but I think they’re better versed in talking about these things.
“If their team asked us to support them in some way, obviously we would have to listen to that and consider that but that hasn’t happened at the moment.”
Southgate said his main priority was for his side to spread a little joy back home, with political turmoil and a cost-of-living crisis forming a grim backdrop to the World Cup.
He said, “We are all hoping to focus on football now. Our country is also going through a difficult phase, not like some other countries, but we are in an economic recession and life has been difficult for a lot of our people.”
“So we want them to enjoy their football, to have a journey with the team and it brings them some joy.”
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