Khadijah Farrakhan, longtime wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, died on Saturday, the Nation of Islam has announced. She was 90.
“Mother Khadijah” worked alongside her provocative and charismatic husband for decades, helping lead their religious and sociopolitical movement, which espouses Black self-reliance. Its home base was Mosque Maryam on the south side of Chicago, where the pair lived.
Click to Gallery
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, his wife Khadijah Farrakhan, and their daughter, Maria Farrakhan Mohammad, pose for photographers in front of the Window Rock Navajo Monument, Wednesday, July 19, 2006, in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, center from Chicago, Il., walks down the steps of the Capital Building with his wife, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, left, as they arrive at the Millions More Movement on the National Mall, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, his wife Khadijah Farrakhan, and their daughter, Maria Farrakhan Mohammad, pose for photographers in front of the Window Rock Navajo Monument, Wednesday, July 19, 2006, in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, center from Chicago, Il., walks down the steps of the Capital Building with his wife, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, left, as they arrive at the Millions More Movement on the National Mall, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and his wife, Khadijah, watch as their grandson, Virginia senior Mustapha Farrakhan, is honored with other seniors before Virginia's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Charlottesville, Va., Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
FILE - Khadijah Farrakhan, wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, stands before members of the 20th Navajo Nation Council Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
“The Honorable Minister @LouisFarrakhan with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the first lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased),” a statement by the Shura Executive Council said.
Her death came only seven months after devotees had marked Khadijah's 90th birthday. The statement said funeral services are to be announced.
Mosque Maryam remembered Farrakhan as “a devoted follower” with “a precious soul, a sweet heart.”
In a post on Facebook, R&B artist ZaRio Son Rise recalled her as “a true queen, a righteous woman, and one of the greatest examples of dignity, faith, loyalty, and grace our generation has ever witnessed.”
Born Betsy Ross, Khadijah Farrakhan married her husband, then named Louis Walcott, in Boston on Sept. 12, 1953. The two had nine children. Their eldest son, Louis Farrakhan Jr., died in 2018, and son Joshua Farrakhan died in 2023.
Khadijah Farrakhan converted to Islam in 1955, the same year that her husband joined the Chicago-based movement after being heavily influenced Malcolm X, his friend from Boston. The pair changed their names around that time.
Louis Farrakhan stepped into the organization's leadership vacuum shortly after Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965. Among his most significant accomplishments was the Million Man March on Washington in 1995.
Two years later, Khadijah Farrakhan spoke before a gathering of America's Black women in Philadelphia dubbed the Million Woman March.
“A nation can rise no higher than its women," she told the crowd. "We focus on women but cannot lose sight that we must rise as a family -- men, women and children.”
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, his wife Khadijah Farrakhan, and their daughter, Maria Farrakhan Mohammad, pose for photographers in front of the Window Rock Navajo Monument, Wednesday, July 19, 2006, in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, center from Chicago, Il., walks down the steps of the Capital Building with his wife, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, left, as they arrive at the Millions More Movement on the National Mall, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and his wife, Khadijah, watch as their grandson, Virginia senior Mustapha Farrakhan, is honored with other seniors before Virginia's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Charlottesville, Va., Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
FILE - Khadijah Farrakhan, wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, stands before members of the 20th Navajo Nation Council Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N,.J. (AP) — Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and England's fervid fans made MetLife Stadium feel like Wembley. They hope for a repeat at next month's World Cup final.
With supporters' red-and-white St. George's Cross signs circling the field on an afternoon of sporadic rain, Bellingham and Kane scored early in the second half for a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday. England earned first place in its group and a more favorable knockout phase bracket.
The Three Lions even wore the red jerseys made famous when England beat Germany for its only title in 1966, a sartorial similarity connecting North Jersey and that famous day in north London.
“Amazing support. Crazy white wall behind the goal. Perfect weather to play football for us — warm rain," England coach Thomas Tuchel said.
England finished Group L with two wins and a draw for seven points and plays its round of 32 match Wednesday at Atlanta against Congo. The team that advances faces Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.
If the Three Lions had dropped to second, they would have encountered Portugal, with the winner meeting Spain or Austria.
“I know some people have already made plans,” Bellingham said, “so it was nice they don’t have to cancel anything.”
Fans filled the field walls with flags displaying club names that included Tottenham, Watford and Wolves plus less-celebrated clubs such as Crawley Town, Bristol Rovers and Faversham Town.
Panama held the England scoreless through a first half in which Kane had 10 touches, the fewest of any player. Croatia added pressure by taking the lead in the 31st minute against Ghana in simultaneous match in Philadelphia.
“All the lads were ready to go after halftime,” Bellingham said. "We realized we had a couple of more gears to go.”
Bellingham put the Three Lions ahead in the 62nd minute from Bukayo Saka's corner kick. Held in bear hug by Jorge Gutiérrez at the top of the 6-yard box, Bellingham stuck out his left leg and stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his third World Cup goal, his second this year.
Five minutes later, Bellingham crossed from the left flank and Kane outjumped Andrés Andrade to head in the ball for his 82nd international goal. Kane became England's record World Cup scorer with his 11th goal, one more than Gary Lineker.
Bellingham injured his left hamstring playing for Real Madrid on Feb. 1, didn't return until March 22 and scored just two more goals during the rest of the La Liga season.
“Jude looks fit, looks sharp," Kane said. "It looks like he's got the bit between his teeth to really go out there and prove to the world what type of player he is.”
England reached the knockout rounds for the seventh time in eight World Cups.
“They have great players. They are worth millions and millions," Panama defender José Córdoba said. "We’re talking about English football, which is much more developed than in our country and there’s a huge distance.”
Panama went 0-3 for the second time and was outscored 4-0. It joined Iraq, Haiti, El Salvador, Canada and Mexico — all but one from the CONCACAF region — as teams that lost their first six World Cup matches. José Fajardo put the ball in the net for the Los Canaleros in second-half stoppage time, but was called for offside.
“We can be proud — not of the results, as no one can be proud of a defeat, but all in all I think they gave their everything." Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said. “For the outside world, the image of Panama has been really good.”
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford played his 15th World Cup match, second among English players to Peter Shilton’s 17.
England's Jarell Quansah, usually a central defender, replaced right back Reece James, sidelined by a hamstring. Quansah twisted his right ankle during a 59th-minute challenge by José Luis Rodríguez and was replaced in the 63rd. England is short on right backs after Trent Alexander-Arnold was not picked for the roster.
“It will be now a very tight race for Quansah, so I’m worried about these two," Tuchel said.
In the glow of victory, supporters celebrated Bellingham by singing the Beatles' “Hey Jude” when he stood on the field for postgame interviews.
“This evening is for sure to take in the energy and take in the atmosphere,” Tuchel said. “From tomorrow we will think about round of 32.”
AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here.
Fans look on during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates with England's Jude Bellingham (10) after scoring their second goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
England’s Harry Kane (9) celebrates with England's Jude Bellingham (10) after scoring their second goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring their second goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
