German Soccer Team Prays with Curacao Opponents

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According to the World Soccer Shop, an estimated 5.6 billion viewers will watch the World Cup action this year. In the 2022 World Cup finale between Argentina and France, nearly 1.42 billion watched and cheered as their favorite teams fought to the finish. With the launch of the 2026 games, however, viewers are watching more than a sports face-off; they’re watching competitors join together in faith.

After beating the Curacao team this past Sunday, German national soccer players crossed the field to pray with their opponents. Though they are all soccer players, they’re also all followers of Christ and His children.

In a postgame interview following Germany’s win, 7-1, midfielder Felix Nmecha explained that while they are opponents, they’re also “Christians and we are like brothers," he responded. “We simply said a little prayer together because we are all still feeling very grateful for everything that has happened,” he added. “Overall, we all believe that Jesus is glorified through the game, and that is why we came together.”

At just 25 years old, Nmecha is a bold midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Unashamed of his faith, the athlete’s Instagram page notes, “Jesus is my foundation.” Some of his posts also include him giving gratitude to God after soccer games. Beyond Germany, however, faith is also important to Curacao’s national soccer team. Before the World Cup kickoff, players participated in a night of worship, prayer, and testimony. Kenji Gorre, one of the team’s leading players, explained the importance of his faith this way:

“When you are on the pitch, the world tells you that you depend on your own strength, your talent or fame, but the reality is that without Jesus we are nothing,” he asserted. “Tonight we do not gather as athletes seeking human success, but as children of God who recognize that everything we have belongs to Him.”

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages / Matt McNulty - FIFA / Contributor

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.