As football fans begin arriving for the FIFA World Cup 2026 festivities, a team from WhyIslam is carrying a different mission into the crowds: sharing the message of Islam through conversation, outreach, and personal connection.

Leading the initiative is Mexican-American Da’iyah (Islamic outreach worker) Nahela Morales, who previously headed a similar outreach effort during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Speaking in an exclusive interview with AboutIslam, Morales said the project is rooted in a fundamental Islamic responsibility.

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“Well, it’s a command that was given to us by Allah and through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He instructed us to convey the message, even if it is only one verse,” she said.

“As Muslims, we have a responsibility to convey this message and to help clear up misconceptions. As believers, we understand that everyone has a responsibility to share this message.”

The WhyIslam team has arrived in Mexico equipped with Spanish-language Qurans, pamphlets, T-shirts, and even small soccer balls carrying the question: “¿Cuál es tu meta?” (“What is your goal?”).

Their plan is to engage visitors and residents in fan festivals, tourist areas, and public spaces throughout Mexico City.

“The goals for this year’s outreach efforts are really to have fruitful conversations and to engage with people,” Morales explained. “There are going to be people from all walks of life, with different life experiences and from different countries.”

She believes the mission is especially important in a country where many people have never personally met a Muslim.

“Just yesterday, I asked our Uber driver a simple question: whether he had ever met a Mexican Muslim. He said no,” she said.

Even before the official outreach activities began, the conversations had already started.

“Just yesterday, during my time on the plane, in the Uber, and at the airport, the dawah began almost immediately,” Morales recalled.

One encounter proved particularly memorable. While waiting at the airport, she spoke with a janitor who initially declined a Quran but accepted informational brochures. Later, the conversation resumed when she introduced him to another member of the team.

“We ended up spending more than two hours together—nearly three and a half hours—and eventually he embraced Islam,” she said.

Brazil Memories

For Morales, however, some of the most powerful memories still come from Brazil, where she spent three weeks leading WhyIslam’s World Cup outreach in 2014.

During that mission, the team engaged hundreds of people, distributed Islamic literature, performed humanitarian work in underserved communities, and witnessed several people embrace Islam.

One story has remained with her for more than a decade.

“One of the most profound moments was when our driver of three weeks took his Shahadah near the end of our trip,” she said.

The driver, whom Morales identified as Don Carlos, had watched the team’s interactions throughout the mission, including visits to favelas where they distributed food packages.

“He came to me and told me: ‘You came from so far away to feed my people, to take care of my people. I live here, and I want to follow your footsteps.'”

Morales said she treated him as a valued member of the team throughout the trip, checking on his needs and including him in their daily activities.

When he finally approached her near the end of the mission, she did not initially understand what he meant.

“He said: ‘Today is the day that I become a Muslim.'”

“I think that story has weighed a lot on me and has stayed with me all these years,” Morales reflected. “Now, 12 years later, I’m in Mexico City doing something similar to what we did in Brazil.”

As a native of Mexico City, returning to lead the outreach effort carries special meaning.

“Alhamdulillah, as a native Mexican born in Mexico City, the idea of returning to Mexico City for this mission was very promising,” she said.

Yet she insists the work is ultimately not about any individual.

“Allah chose me. Alhamdulillah, He is the One who chooses us for this work, and He is also the One who can replace us.”

Beyond inviting people to learn about Islam, Morales hopes visitors leave with a deeper understanding of Muslims and their faith.

“We pray that the message people receive is that Islam is a religion of peace and of the oneness of God, and that if we learn to respect each other and appreciate our similarities, this world will be a much better place.”

For Muslims unable to travel to Mexico, Morales encouraged them to support the initiative through both du’a and financial contributions.

“There are a lot of people interested. If you go to my page, you’ll see that I’ve received over 300 messages. It’s wonderful to see people engaged,” she said.

Morales noted that supporters can contribute to the outreach effort through WhyIslam’s World Cup campaign page at whyislam.org/fifa.

“We want to invite everyone to be part of this amazing opportunity by supporting it with their resources and, most importantly, with their du’as.”