Zohran Mamdani, the youngest mayor in over a century and New York City’s first elected Muslim mayor, is a die-hard Arsenal fan and admires former Spanish footballer Cesc Fabregas.
Hailing from Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), made his way to New York at the age of seven.
“We know that publicly manifesting as a Muslim also means sacrificing the safety we sometimes find in the shadows,” Mamdani stated at a political rally alongside his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist he met on the dating app Hinge.
The keys to Mamdani’s successful campaign for mayor focused on affordable housing, transportation, and welfare policies that resonated with young voters and working-class neighborhoods.
Despite facing opposition from Donald Trump, who labeled him a “communist” and threatened to cut aid to New York City if he won, Mamdani emerged victorious in the mayoral race.
Mamdani’s passion for Arsenal and Cesc Fabregas stems from his youth, where he bonded with European friends over soccer and stayed up late to watch Premier League matches.
Comparing his political resilience to Leicester City’s historic Premier League win in 2016, Mamdani expressed his love for Arsenal and even had images of Wenger’s ‘Invincible’ team from the 2003-04 season on his fridge.
Organizing the Cost of Living Classic football tournament, Mamdani revealed Thierry Henry as his favorite player and expressed admiration for Ronaldo Nazario, while naming Cesc Fabregas as his ideal captain.
