The FIFA World Cup will draw to an end on July 19, 2026. For some, this soccer world championship held every four years means little. Especially in Canada and the U.S, where many sports-lovers are far more enamoured with hockey, football, basketball, baseball, and even curling. For some sports enthusiasts, however, this tournament, lasting just over a month, represents far more than an excuse to gather with friends and enjoy deep-fried foods. As we witness “the beautiful game” unite the world, many of us are moved to tears of both joy and disappointment.
After viewing many of the World Cup matches held conveniently in my homeland and time zone, I’ve drawn a few lessons that we as believers can learn from this epic sporting event.
1. Underdogs Can Surprise Us
Four nations qualified for the World Cup for the first time this year: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Imagine, therefore, the level of skill required to represent one’s nation on the global stage. Few pundits expected much of these newcomers. This is especially true of Cabo Verde. After all, this archipelago off the coast of West Africa is home to just 330,000 inhabitants. That’s a population roughly equivalent to the city of Halifax.
Then, the selection of this tiny nation dared to dream it could unseat a giant. After becoming the smallest country to reach the knockout round, they faced the reigning world champions, Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Their odds of winning were set at 0.6%. Their players, however, didn’t get the memo. Their 40-year-old goalie, Vozinha, stunned the world by blocking five shots by Messi alone. And little-known players Deroy Duarte and Sidney Lopes Cabral scored equalizing goals that dumbfounded the pro-Argentina crowd in Miami. Forced into extra time, Argentina finally secured their place in the round of sixteen by scoring in the 111th minute for a final score of 3-2. I heard it said that they didn’t best Cabo Verde. They survived them.
Lesson for the Church
As I cheered along this fearless underdog, I thought of how much we as believers resemble this insignificant team that brought the great Messi to his knees. In 1 Corinthians 1:26 (CSB), Paul reminds the saints in Corinth: “Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.”
God didn’t choose us because we were talented or impressive. We had little to commend us in the eyes of the world. Few among us can claim the title GOAT (meaning “greatest of all time”). By the same token, we should be careful not to gravitate towards charisma over character. Or to honour the rich and prominent at the expense of the poor among us (Jas. 2:1-7). God has chosen to honour the least and the last (Matt. 25:31-46). And sometimes the biggest impact can come from the most surprising sources—as the Blue Sharks of Cabo Verde reminded the entire world.
2. Immigration is a Blessing
If you were to look at the portraits of most of the teams representing Western Europe and North America, you’d notice one thing: The diversity of their players. Nearly 25% of the 1,248 players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup were born outside the nation they represent. Canada built its squad largely from immigrants, refugees, and the children of immigrants.
Much the same holds for the U.S., with a quarter of its players born outside the U.S. and half holding dual citizenship. As for France, 81% of its squad is composed of immigrants or children of immigrants. And the list goes on. Needless to say, immigration has strengthened these teams on the world stage.
Lesson for the Church
The dechurching movement in North America is a subject of grave concern. White, mainline denominations and older churches of European heritage are seeing declines. At the same time, ethnic churches are expanding, thanks in part to immigration. What if God were to rechurch the secular West by means of the sojourners among us? Our greatest tactic against the onslaught of secularism might just be to embrace and deploy sisters and brothers hailing from distant shores to work alongside us in the harvest. Leaving aside legitimate political questions, which are not my concern here, immigrants are a blessing to the church, much as they are to soccer in the West.
3. Endurance Pays Off
I know of no other team sport that requires more endurance than soccer. Players consistently run 10–13 kilometres over 90 minutes with few substitutions. And this year’s tournament is on track to be the hottest in the 96-year history of the competition. Which is perhaps a reason why a team that begins well does not always finish well. I witnessed this as I cheered on Senegal in their match against Belgium. Up 2-0, they conceded two goals in the closing five minutes of the game. They eventually lost 2-3 in extra time.
As an unskilled observer, I cannot comment on the tactical errors that cost Les Lions de la Teranga the victory. My simple assessment is that they got too comfortable with their lead and didn’t fight to the very end.
Lesson for the Church
We, as believers, also run the risk of getting too comfortable with our seemingly unchallenged Christian life. We face little persecution, relative to our sisters and brothers in the global south. And an unnuanced belief in eternal security can lead some Christians to take for granted that they have a responsibility to fight for their faith.
Yet Scripture testifies that it’s not those who begin well, but those who persevere to the end, who inherit eternal life (Matt. 13:1-23, 24:13, Heb. 3:14, 2 Tim. 2:12). The tenacity of players fighting until the final whistle blows reminds us to endure until we hear the last trumpet sound (1 Cor. 15:52).
4. Something Great Can Unite the World
Throughout the tournament, FIFA has aired a commercial featuring some of its star players. In various languages and settings, they unite to declare the following:
There is a lot of truth in this declaration. Over the past few weeks, I’ve engaged with neighbours and acquaintances in ways I rarely had before. I recently learned, for example, that my Iranian neighbour has a cousin who plays on the national team! A shared passion for the game has brought people together in new and exciting ways. Call it soccer, football, fútbol, futebol, fußball, calcio, or whatever you wish. It remains the most popular sport worldwide, with over 3.5 billion fans. And it really does unite the world.
Lesson for the Church
As ambassadors of reconciliation, we have a message far greater to share than a love for soccer. So, let us be one, as Jesus and the Father are one, so that the world might believe the message of the cross (John 17:21). The theological and cultural issues that divide us need not keep us from living as a family with our sisters and brothers across the globe.
Let these lessons from the beautiful game strengthen our resolve to make much of Jesus, because something great can unite the world: The good news of a Saviour who died and rose to make us his own. If soccer can bring together women and men, girls and boys from such diverse settings and backgrounds, how much more glorious is the bond that makes us one in Christ:
After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb! (Rev. 7:9-10)
The FIFA World Cup will soon be over. The Kingdom of our God and of his Christ, on the other hand, will never end. Let us enjoy these earthly pleasures while awaiting his coming with joyful hope and expectation.
