‘It’s Bible time’: How religion became part of the USMNT’s World Cup identity
Summary
Several players and coaches on the United States men’s national soccer team openly express their religious beliefs. This openness about faith marks a change from past U.S. soccer players, who rarely shared their personal beliefs publicly. Players from diverse backgrounds practice different religions and often incorporate their faith into team activities.Key Facts
- Christian Pulisic frequently shares his Christian faith, including reading the Bible publicly.
- Weston McKennie expresses his faith openly, using phrases like “All glory to God” on social media.
- Chris Richards and some teammates pray and study the Bible together before games.
- Coach Mauricio Pochettino is Catholic and wears religious symbols; he once prayed at a shrine to help his previous team avoid relegation.
- The last World Cup US team included players with different faiths: a pastor’s son, a Muslim who fasted during Ramadan, and a Buddhist who led meditation sessions.
- In the past, U.S. players like Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard rarely talked about their faith publicly.
- The current team reflects a trend of athletes feeling more comfortable sharing their personal beliefs.
- This openness about religion happens alongside a broader political context where the U.S. government, under President Trump, has sometimes promoted Christian nationalism.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.