This is evidenced by the undeniable Christo-centric presence in what both the New York Times, The Guardian, and now the FT agree marks an unarguable culture shift.
Also tuning in, the FT couldn’t deny that the presence of prayer on the playing field was more prominent, thoroughly unapologetic and mostly Christian.
World Cup and a Christian Cultural Shift
As FT’s veteran columnist and sports journalist, Simon Kuper, wrote, “Religion may have a particular appeal to footballers, but these scenes also reveal broader social shifts.”
To make sense of the phenomenon, which is bewildering “God is dead” hardline secularists, Kuper spoke with Dutch professor of theology, Mariecke van den Berg.
For van den Berg, the social shift is definitely accompanied by the “comeback of religion in the public sphere.”
Pointing to the mass importing of Islam into Europe and the counter-cultural rise of evangelicalism in European nations, she determined that “this new religious landscape will look different.”
🚨 JUST IN: There is a special move of the spirit in the football world.
Players coming out on the biggest stage, boldly proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ ✝️ pic.twitter.com/MPAWIhRZ1X
Splitting Christianity down denominational lines, van den Berg explained that soccer was once the domain of Catholicism.
Brought to the game by Latin American players, “that meant the commonest religious gesture over the decades was players crossing themselves.”
Acknowledging the rise of evangelical Christianity since 2002, and Islam’s more pronounced presence since 2022, Kuper, citing van den Berg, said, “The most viable form of Christianity in Europe now is evangelical Christianity.”
This includes “migrant and more white churches.”
Searching for Secular Explanations
Unfortunately, Kuper’s take in the Financial Times took a hostile, far-left turn.
Unhinged, the FT journalist implied that Christianity’s influence and impact on the FIFA event were the result of manipulation.
Quoting van den Berg, Kuper said the players “manage to connect with youth culture, through short sermons, directed at emotion. And it has a clear story.”
Although Kuper acknowledged that Christianity’s ethical clarity and certainty were a plausible reason for the revival, he put the social shift down to an error within Pentecostalism.
“Pentecostal Christianity in Latin American countries,” the FT article asserted, “is often based on the prosperity gospel, which sees wealth as a sign that God blesses you.”
Again, appearing to align with the Dutch theologian’s assessment, Kuper reasoned that “many footballers migrate young.”
He then insinuated that the public declarations of faith in Christ were an emotional/psychological crutch and nothing more, stating, “Religious faith helps them deal with loneliness, pressure and setbacks like being benched, and it can assuage their guilt about becoming rich while people they grew up with remain poor.”
Expressing a distaste for the Christian cultural shift, Kuper then conflated the gospel groundswell with the so-called “far-right”.
🚨 JUST IN: There is a special move of the spirit in the football world.
Players coming out on the biggest stage, boldly proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ ✝️ pic.twitter.com/MPAWIhRZ1X
While speaking warmly of Islam, Kuper name-dropped Felix Nmecha as an example of why the religious revival was problematic.
“Religion in football can spark political conflict.” For example, the FT piece asserted, “Many evangelical Christians hold right-wing views.”
Arguing specifics, he noted how the public presence of Christianity might make those who identify as LGBTQ+ feel oppressed.
Calling the late Charlie Kirk a “far-right commentator”, Kuper then recalled how the 25-year-old player with a five-year, 40 million EURO contract was reprimanded for an online tribute to the assassinated TPUSA founder.
While Kuper apparently disapproves of Christian soccer players elevating the gospel in between scoring goals, he seems to be more than happy with Muslims quoting the Quran and genuflecting to Mecca.
🚨 JUST IN: There is a special move of the spirit in the football world.
Players coming out on the biggest stage, boldly proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ ✝️ pic.twitter.com/MPAWIhRZ1X
Kuper especially approves of this when the “‘Islamic expression’ angers Europe’s far right.”
By far-right, he means critics of Islam, like Dutch politician Geert Wilders.
Gospel Growth Challenging a Secular Europe
Double standards, whip statements and selective reasoning aside, the FT article’s decidedly clear redemption was van den Berg’s conclusion.
“The tournament’s religiosity,” she said, signals “that Europe isn’t as secular as it thought.”
Even though Kuper and the Left’s “God is dead” hegemony might be reluctant to admit there’s a power greater than theirs at work here, FIFA’s faith pair-up is undeniably real.
As documented by Ballers in God, and Sports Spectrum, the behaviour, pattern and impact all point to the gospel, not away from it.
Despite media misrepresentations, Ballers reported that they had been flooded with “videos of people doing Felix Nmecha’s ‘crown down’ celebration.”
“From stadiums to living rooms,” the ministry said, “people are making one thing clear: The crown belongs to Jesus.”
An Instagram post from Stuckey on June 19 contains a range of pictures showing players “glorifying Jesus on and off the World Cup field.”
Stating a love for seeing pro-athletes put Christ centre stage, Stuckey applauded the soccer stars for using the “global moment to boldly proclaim their faith and glorify God.”
Likewise, the NC Register listed five examples of FIFA’s athletes affirming Paul’s “it’s no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives through me” (Galatians 2:20).
To summarise CBN, this is a movement.
Contrary to Kuper, these Christian players are not selling an Islamophobic, anti-LGBT, get-rich-quick, manipulative mantra.
They’re genuinely turning goals into gratitude and gratitude into kicking goals for the Great Commission.
We need your help. The continued existence of the Daily Declaration depends on the generosity of readers like you. Donate now. The Daily Declaration is committed to keeping our site free of advertising so we can stay independent and continue to stand for the truth.
Fake news and censorship make the work of the Canberra Declaration and our Christian news site the Daily Declaration more important than ever. Take a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and truth. Support us as we shine a light in the darkness. Donate now.
Identificational repentance is a very powerful corporate, priestly (1 Peter 2:9) prayer weapon, in which believers stand in the gap for their family, church, city, or nation by naming the sins that have shaped a people, confessing them before God, and turning from those patterns in heartfelt humility.
Nation First examines the interview that rattled the woke media class, and asks why a straightforward conversation with Tommy Robinson was enough to end Karl Stefanovic’s career at Nine.
Sowell once flirted with Marxism, attracted by its promises of equality of outcome, only to reject it. Here are some choice quotes from him on what true equality means — and most importantly for today — what it does not.
The Australian Christian Lobby is hosting screenings of the groundbreaking documentary Born Alive, Left to Die across Australia. It is time for truth, accountability, and change. Attend a screening and invite others to join you.
Most Australians still believe in human dignity and inalienable rights, essential truths for a just legal system. What they’ve since abandoned is the only foundation that make those beliefs coherent.
The U.S. Men's team has twice concluded a World Cup match by coming together to pray, with increasing Christian expression during the tournament catching secular media off-guard.
The Daily Declaration is an Australian Christian news site dedicated to providing a voice for Christian values in the public square. Our vision is to see the revitalisation of our Judeo-Christian values for the common good. We are non-profit, independent, crowdfunded, and provide Christian news for a growing audience across Australia, Asia, and the South Pacific. The opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of The Daily Declaration. Read More.
Faith and FIFA: Critics Downplay God’s World Cup Comeback
26 June 2026
3.9 MINS
Faith and FIFA’s 2026 World Cup continue to pair up.
So much so, the Financial Times (FT) has confidently declared that God is making a comeback.
This is evidenced by the undeniable Christo-centric presence in what both the New York Times, The Guardian, and now the FT agree marks an unarguable culture shift.
Also tuning in, the FT couldn’t deny that the presence of prayer on the playing field was more prominent, thoroughly unapologetic and mostly Christian.
World Cup and a Christian Cultural Shift
As FT’s veteran columnist and sports journalist, Simon Kuper, wrote, “Religion may have a particular appeal to footballers, but these scenes also reveal broader social shifts.”
To make sense of the phenomenon, which is bewildering “God is dead” hardline secularists, Kuper spoke with Dutch professor of theology, Mariecke van den Berg.
For van den Berg, the social shift is definitely accompanied by the “comeback of religion in the public sphere.”
Pointing to the mass importing of Islam into Europe and the counter-cultural rise of evangelicalism in European nations, she determined that “this new religious landscape will look different.”
Splitting Christianity down denominational lines, van den Berg explained that soccer was once the domain of Catholicism.
Brought to the game by Latin American players, “that meant the commonest religious gesture over the decades was players crossing themselves.”
Acknowledging the rise of evangelical Christianity since 2002, and Islam’s more pronounced presence since 2022, Kuper, citing van den Berg, said, “The most viable form of Christianity in Europe now is evangelical Christianity.”
This includes “migrant and more white churches.”
Searching for Secular Explanations
Unfortunately, Kuper’s take in the Financial Times took a hostile, far-left turn.
Unhinged, the FT journalist implied that Christianity’s influence and impact on the FIFA event were the result of manipulation.
Quoting van den Berg, Kuper said the players “manage to connect with youth culture, through short sermons, directed at emotion. And it has a clear story.”
Although Kuper acknowledged that Christianity’s ethical clarity and certainty were a plausible reason for the revival, he put the social shift down to an error within Pentecostalism.
“Pentecostal Christianity in Latin American countries,” the FT article asserted, “is often based on the prosperity gospel, which sees wealth as a sign that God blesses you.”
Again, appearing to align with the Dutch theologian’s assessment, Kuper reasoned that “many footballers migrate young.”
He then insinuated that the public declarations of faith in Christ were an emotional/psychological crutch and nothing more, stating, “Religious faith helps them deal with loneliness, pressure and setbacks like being benched, and it can assuage their guilt about becoming rich while people they grew up with remain poor.”
Expressing a distaste for the Christian cultural shift, Kuper then conflated the gospel groundswell with the so-called “far-right”.
Evangelicals and the ‘Far Right’
While speaking warmly of Islam, Kuper name-dropped Felix Nmecha as an example of why the religious revival was problematic.
“Religion in football can spark political conflict.” For example, the FT piece asserted, “Many evangelical Christians hold right-wing views.”
Arguing specifics, he noted how the public presence of Christianity might make those who identify as LGBTQ+ feel oppressed.
Calling the late Charlie Kirk a “far-right commentator”, Kuper then recalled how the 25-year-old player with a five-year, 40 million EURO contract was reprimanded for an online tribute to the assassinated TPUSA founder.
While Kuper apparently disapproves of Christian soccer players elevating the gospel in between scoring goals, he seems to be more than happy with Muslims quoting the Quran and genuflecting to Mecca.
Kuper especially approves of this when the “‘Islamic expression’ angers Europe’s far right.”
By far-right, he means critics of Islam, like Dutch politician Geert Wilders.
Gospel Growth Challenging a Secular Europe
Double standards, whip statements and selective reasoning aside, the FT article’s decidedly clear redemption was van den Berg’s conclusion.
“The tournament’s religiosity,” she said, signals “that Europe isn’t as secular as it thought.”
Even though Kuper and the Left’s “God is dead” hegemony might be reluctant to admit there’s a power greater than theirs at work here, FIFA’s faith pair-up is undeniably real.
As documented by Ballers in God, and Sports Spectrum, the behaviour, pattern and impact all point to the gospel, not away from it.
Despite media misrepresentations, Ballers reported that they had been flooded with “videos of people doing Felix Nmecha’s ‘crown down’ celebration.”
“From stadiums to living rooms,” the ministry said, “people are making one thing clear: The crown belongs to Jesus.”
Others, such as CBN, The Blaze’s Allie Beth Stuckey, and The National Catholic Register, also pointed to the revival phenomenon.
An Instagram post from Stuckey on June 19 contains a range of pictures showing players “glorifying Jesus on and off the World Cup field.”
Stating a love for seeing pro-athletes put Christ centre stage, Stuckey applauded the soccer stars for using the “global moment to boldly proclaim their faith and glorify God.”
Likewise, the NC Register listed five examples of FIFA’s athletes affirming Paul’s “it’s no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives through me” (Galatians 2:20).
To summarise CBN, this is a movement.
Contrary to Kuper, these Christian players are not selling an Islamophobic, anti-LGBT, get-rich-quick, manipulative mantra.
They’re genuinely turning goals into gratitude and gratitude into kicking goals for the Great Commission.
___
Image via Pexels.
About the Author: Rod Lampard
COMMENTARY / Faith / Good News / Prayer / uncategorized / World
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We need your help. The continued existence of the Daily Declaration depends on the generosity of readers like you. Donate now. The Daily Declaration is committed to keeping our site free of advertising so we can stay independent and continue to stand for the truth.
Fake news and censorship make the work of the Canberra Declaration and our Christian news site the Daily Declaration more important than ever. Take a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and truth. Support us as we shine a light in the darkness. Donate now.
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