World Cup Outreach Sparks Gospel Conversations
The world is coming to Kansas City and other North American cities this summer for World Cup Soccer. Victory Beyond the Cup is equipping Christians to turn watch parties, neighborhood gatherings and shared cultural moments into outreach with lasting gospel conversations.
A national initiative spearheaded by Cru, Victory Beyond the Cup is getting believers into the game by using the tournament as neutral ground to build community and spark meaningful faith conversations. Cru is partnering with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Alpha USA, I Am Second and other ministries to equip 100,000 individuals and 10,000 churches to engage in this cultural moment.
“With so many people interacting with the World Cup, whether watching with friends, checking scores or even attending a game in one of the United States’ host cities, the opportunity for Gospel impact is too large to miss,” said Heather Reddy, executive director of Victory Beyond the Cup. “By removing barriers and making it easy to host and be involved, our hope is that we will see a lasting change, one that persists long after the winner is crowned.”
Victory Beyond the Cup is providing free physical and digital hosting kits — with a hosting guide, recipes from a variety of countries, prayer cards and conversation starters — to help people feel confident. The kits are available in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese, allowing kingdom conversations to occur across cultural lines. Pastor kits also empower churches to engage their congregations in the initiative. Mighty Networks, an online digital community, allows participants to connect with others taking part from across the country.
Victory Beyond the Cup is Cru’s initiative to mobilize U.S. Christians and churches to use the 2026 FIFA World Cup for gospel impact. As five billion people are expected to watch the FIFA World Cup this summer, Victory Beyond the Cup helps believers spark meaningful conversations, connect across cultures and share the hope of Christ, right where the game begins. For more information, visit www.VictoryBeyondtheCup.com.
–Alan Goforth
