Third Space Identity Negotiation: A Case Study of Muslim Canadians and Faith- and Community-Based Sport

This study explores identity negotiation through a case study of the Umoja Games, an annual faith- and community-based tournament held in the United States and Canada by and for Muslims. By analyzing the lived experiences of players, insights from the cofounder, and social media data, the study explores how participants negotiate identity. Umoja Games becomes a unique setting in which transnational movement, sociopolitical contexts, and multiple identities come to the forefront, allowing for an in-depth analysis of identity negotiation. The study draws on postcolonial theory to frame these negotiations. Findings reveal that participants’ identity negotiation surpasses the balancing of two cultures, instead occurring in what Bhabha describes as the “Third Space,” shaped by their experiences of sociopolitical conditions as Muslim Canadians.