Whether you call it soccer or football, there’s little doubt that, besides the Ted Lasso series, the 2026 World Cup being played in North America has perhaps done more to generate widespread American interest in the sport than anything else the last fifty years. I say this knowing full well there are still many who couldn’t be more disinterested.
Despite having never played competitively myself, I’ve half-expected and even silently rooted for this moment since a high school friend (and stellar athlete) shocked students and coaches alike when he broke from tradition to play futbol instead of football.
Sure, kicking a ball around is always fun. And coaching the kids when they were little in what I call beehive soccer (U6s buzzing the ball around the pitch like a swarm of bees) helped, too.
Okay, the ‘coaching’ title may be a stretch.
But watching one of my sons become a standout high school soccer player following his own departure from tradition, and more recently cheering on all three grandsons from a fold-up chair beside a miniature field (under much better coaching than I ever provided) has been pure joy. Traveling to dozens of countries around the world over the years where soccer is THE sport hasn’t hurt, either.
So it’s no surprise that, like many others, I find myself caught up in this year’s World Cup. There’s a new excitement for this sport in America. I mean, it’s only taken 250 years! Okay, organized soccer as we know it is more a late-1800s thing, but you get it. And while the long hours and tireless work many good friends are putting in at North American venues keeping things safe and secure is not lost on me, this awakening has been great for the country, the sport, and the world!
Perhaps a different type of sleeping giant has been awakened.
With this renewed excitement for soccer in North America, maybe this is a good time to point out how less-than-excited Hollywood should be about all these new actors joining the guild after they leave the sport. Probably no coincidence the term flop is used both for terrible movies and what’s become a nauseatingly familiar sight on replays. But while the incessant over-dramatics is another analysis for another time, some observations here are timely and fit with the overall message.
I’m the first to admit I’ve missed the mark and fallen short more times than I can count. So if my points here seem harsh or hypocritical, know in advance that I recognize full well that I have more fingers pointing back at me than the one I’m pointing at others, and I see clearly the plank in my own eye while bringing attention to the speck in theirs.
Still, my least favorite aspect of the sport is professional athletes – grown men – writhing around on the ground in feigned agony, often after scarcely more than a shoelace brushed their leg. Even memes comparing LeBron James’ overdone tendencies on the hardwood to the antics on soccer’s premier stage are spot on.
No one is fooled by your shenanigans.
Ouch, that truth bomb detonation is a little close to home. Maybe it works more than it should in soccer as a way to make sure the official didn’t miss something; a shameless attempt to influence. And while there are certainly times it’s not an act (the snapped lower leg of Canadian player Ismaël Koné; the bloodied head of Netherlands’ Jan Paul van Hecke), the scale is heavily tipped toward feeble attempts at distraction, winning undeserved favor, or deflecting responsibility. If it were egregious enough, you’d think it would be called regardless.
It’s worth pointing out that despite sustaining actual and significant injuries, neither of the men above exaggerated their interaction.
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. – Isa 30.15
Maybe it’s about playing the game better. Cleaner. Leaving no doubt. Performing (not acting) so well there’s no room for contention. I could be wrong on this, and feel free to comment to the contrary, but in all the times I’ve watched the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe’, or Haaland, I’ve seldom seen this shameless buffoonery. Get up, shake it off, persevere, play on. True professionals quietly and confidently do their jobs well.
And rest assured God isn’t fooled by excessive dramatics, flopping around, or blaming others for our problem(s), either. The truth is, we all need to play the game of life better. No amount of distraction or theatrics makes my life, leadership, fitness, or faith walk any better or easier.
The will to persevere is often the difference between success and failure. – Nicky Gumbel
Difficulties happen in life. A leg snaps in two; you get kicked in the head; you’re dragged down meters from the goal. A loved dies; you lose your job; your car breaks down; illness assails you. While terrible and nothing you’d wish on anyone, hardships are inevitable and often obvious. Seldom do those experiencing real pain or heartache feel the need to embellish it. But there is hope, and faith involves trusting that God’s purposes are greater than your limited understanding.
So, even when roadblocked by lackluster leadership, rampant favoritism, or horrible bosses…persevere. If you’re lied to, slandered, hurt, frustrated, or just can’t seem to catch a break…keep faith. Whether discouraged, heartbroken, openly battling health concerns, or silently fighting battles no one knows about… stay strong.
God may be working to change something within you before he changes what is around you.
I’m not afraid to admit there’s more going on in me than just a rekindled love of soccer. In fact, as I watched Iraq’s first World Cup 2026 match vs Norway, I found myself as much rooting for them as wondering what ever came of the Iraqi children I kicked the ball around with while serving there. Did any of them go on to play professionally? Am I watching one right now and don’t even know it? Do they still live there? Are they even living at all?
Like my dad, I’m often pulling for the underdog. And of course I root for Canada, Colombia, Italy, and Curacao because of personal connections and wonderful friends I’ve made in those places.
I’m also rooting for us. Both the US national team AND the United States.
Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring. – St Catherine of Siena
Two hundred fifty years ago, the men who made up the Second Continental Congress faced months of bickering, infighting, disagreements, dramatics, and much more. Yet they endured for a greater good and something larger than themselves: American independence. They persevered and paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today and celebrate each July.
Yes, the United States celebrates a milestone this year, but God created the world for everyone. So with the timely help of the world’s most popular and accessible sport on its largest ever stage, I’m also rooting for the world right now. What better time than now for all of us to reflect God’s love through kindness, mutual respect, and appreciation for the human achievement on display at this international competition?
I challenge us to let the loyalty and zeal of soccer fans from across the world, on display this summer in North America, serve as a reminder of our founding fathers’ vision, passion, and perseverance 250 years ago.
And consider how we might similarly use our passions to help make the world a better place.
Get Strong. Be Strong. Stay Strong.
