Is football haram?

Sport is encouraged in Islam

The Prophet ﷺ said, "A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone" (Sahih Muslim 2664). Scholars explain that strength here includes physical strength, as long as it's used well. The Prophet ﷺ himself raced his wife Aisha on foot, and she once beat him (Sunan Abi Dawud 2578). Team sports like football build fitness, friendship and discipline, which are all good things.

What to watch out for when you play

• Prayer times: training and matches shouldn't make you miss prayers. Pray before kick-off, at half-time, or straight after if the time allows.
• Covering the thighs: most scholars say a man's awrah is from the navel to the knee. The Prophet ﷺ told a man whose thigh was showing, "Indeed the thigh is 'awrah" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2795, graded hasan). Wear longer shorts or base-layer leggings under your kit. See Can I still wear shorts to the gym as a Muslim?
• Good manners: no swearing, no deliberate injuries and no cheating. Fair play is part of your faith.
• Mixed games: casual mixed matches with lots of physical contact raise modesty questions for many scholars.

Watching football

Following your team and watching matches is fine. Keep it in proportion:

• No betting, including accumulators and sweepstakes with a cash pot.
• Don't let it take over: a match shouldn't push back a prayer until it's late, or eat whole days you owe to family or work.
• Keep rivalry friendly: mocking, cursing or hating fans of another club isn't how a Muslim speaks.

The same balance applies to other hobbies like gaming. See Can I still play video games as a Muslim?

Friday matches and training

For adult men, Jumu'ah prayer comes first. A Friday training session or five-a-side game isn't a reason to skip it. Look for a mosque with an earlier or later Jumu'ah slot, or move the game. See Can I miss Friday prayer because of a lecture?