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Gareth Southgate confirmed England will take a knee before their World Cup opener against Iran on Monday in a show of solidarity against discrimination.
Premier League teams had adopted the gesture on a regular basis following the death of George Floyd in the United States back in 2020.
It was scrapped as a regular feature ahead of this season, with the Premier League instead announcing the gesture would be reserved for special occasions.
All Premier League games between October 8 and 16 saw players take the knee as part of the ‘No Room for Racism’ campaign, and it was also confirmed games on Boxing Day, the last weekend of the season and the finals of the FA Cup and EFL Cup will also see its return.
It had been reported that England players were discussing whether to kneel during the World Cup and Southgate confirmed the squad came to an agreement.
“We have discussed taking the knee, we feel we should,” Southgate told reporters on Sunday.
“It’s what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time.
“We understand in the Premier League, teams decided to only do it for the big games, the big occasions.
“We feel this is the biggest.
“We think it’s a strong statement that will go around the world to young people in particular to show inclusivity is important.”
On a similar note, Southgate and England captain Harry Kane also reiterated their commitment to the latter wearing the OneLove armband throughout the tournament.
England were one of eight teams to pledge their support to the initiative designed to promote inclusion ahead of the tournament in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal.
FIFA launched its own “social campaign” and is urging captains to wear armbands provided by the governing body that promote its own slogans.
Additionally, regulations suggest the wearing of equipment not endorsed by FIFA are outlawed, giving rise to reports Kane could receive an immediate yellow card for donning the armband.
But England plan to stand by their decision.
“I think we made clear as a team, as a staff and organisation that we want to wear the armband,” Kane said.
“I know the FA [Football Association] is talking to FIFA at the moment and I’m sure by game time they’ll have their decision, but we made clear we want to wear it.”
Southgate continued: “There’s nothing more I can add to what Harry’s said. I know there are conversations going on.
“A number or European countries have spoken and we made our position clear, and hopefully everything will be resolved before the game.”
However, there are no plans to make a gesture in support of women in Iran.
The death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini – who was arrested for not wearing a hijab properly – in police custody in September sparked mass protests across the country, and it is a backdrop that has dominated Iran’s build-up to the World Cup.
Iran showed solidarity with the protestors, 15,000 of whom have reportedly been arrested by the regime, in September when covering up their national symbols before a friendly against Senegal but Southgate said England are not planning to make any gestures of their own.
“I don’t feel informed enough to comment on what’s going on in Iran, it’s not my place either,” he added. “I understand for Iranian players and the manager, they’re in a difficult position but they’re better informed.
“If we were asked by their team to support in some way, we would have to consider that, but at the moment it hasn’t happened.
“We’re all focused on the football now. This has been a complicated build-up in terms of many issues, but now our country expects us to focus on preparing the team as well as we can. I don’t think people should expect that to be any different for us.”
