The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than two weeks away from kicking off, which means that some of the sport’s best players will be heading to the Meadowlands to compete in the tournament. This week, the player set to visit the region that is being put in the spotlight is Declan Rice, a midfielder for England. Rice was a key starter in all five of England’s 2022 FIFA World Cup matches and will hope to continue contributing this summer.
Rice joined the Chelsea F.C. Academy at seven years old in 2006. Years later, in 2013, he joined the West Ham United Academy after being released by Chelsea. On Dec. 16, 2015, Rice signed his first professional contract with West Ham United, though he wouldn’t receive his first call-up to the senior team until 2017.
Rice became a consistent starter for the team, becoming the first teenager to make 50 appearances for West Ham United in over a decade. On Dec. 28, 2018, Rice signed a new contract with West Ham that would keep him with the club through 2024. A few weeks later, on Jan. 12, Rice scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Rice continued to shine in the 2019-20 season, standing in the top five in the Premier League for both tackles and interceptions. He was also one of the team’s most consistent players, starting in all 38 of West Ham’s Premier League matches.
Over the 2021-22 season, West Ham went on a run in the UEFA Europa League, reaching the semi-finals, with great help from Rice. He finished the tournament with three goals in thirteen shots. His performance earned him a spot in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League Team of the Year. In May 2022, Rice would be named the captain of West Ham following the retirement of the club’s previous captain.
On June 8, 2023, Rice was named the Europa Conference League’s player of the season after leading West Ham to its first major European trophy since 1965. After spending his entire professional career with West Ham, he deemed that it was time to move on, leaving behind an iconic legacy with the club.
On July 15, 2023, Rice signed with fellow Premier League club Arsenal on a five-year contract. Rice would go on to make his debut with his new club on Aug. 6, 2023, in the 2023 FA Community Shield against Manchester City, which Arsenal would go on to win in penalties. Rice’s performance with Arsenal, West Ham and England earned him a nomination for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2023.
In the 2024-25 season, Rice was voted as Arsenal Player of the Season for his achievements over the year, which included a runner-up finish in the Premier League. However, this season, Rice didn’t let his club fall short again, as Arsenal finished at the top of the Premier League this season, which just wrapped up last week. This marks the club’s first time capturing a Premier League title in over two decades.
Rice began his international career playing for the Republic of Ireland, despite being born in London. However, in 2019, Rice changed his allegiance to play for England for the foreseeable future, a move that upset many. Rice became the first player since the 1890s to play for both the Republic of Ireland and England’s national teams. Rice persevered, however, competing in all of England’s UEFA Euro 2020 matches as the team finished in second place.
Rice started in all five of England’s matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which saw the team reach the quarter-finals before falling to eventual runner-ups, France. England is currently ranked as the fourth best team in the world and Rice is a crucial part of their squad. Rice and England will be heading to MetLife Stadium on June 27 to take on Panama, hoping to return later in the tournament, as the final match is being held at the same venue.
