Lexington and Colombia

LEXINGTON, Ky. — When the world’s largest soccer tournament eventually culminates in crowning a new champion, the global fanfare can begin to subside as people return to regular life. But ministries like Missionary Athletes International (MAI) continue to kick that beloved ball around in their communities with purpose for the game.

MAI is a gospel-centered ministry that introduces people to Jesus Christ, teaches them to follow him and empowers them as leaders through the global environment of soccer. 

In cities across the U.S., MAI teams such as the Lexington Eagles in Lexington, Ky., leveraged the 2026 global soccer tournament to minister locally to young people and families. They used Victory Beyond the Cup resources to encourage gospel conversations in neighborhoods they serve as well as equip their soccer teams with ways to present the gospel.  

Josh Morgan, the executive director of the Lexington Eagles, shared the Victory Beyond the Cup strategy during the games was a helpful catalyst.  

“God’s given us a platform of soccer to share the gospel, but the world’s biggest stage [the global soccer tournament] is in the States and as a soccer ministry, we’d be naive not to take advantage of it to grow his kingdom,” Morgan said. 

Because MAI's Philadelphia division is located in one of the 2026 global tournament host cities, Morgan said he hosted his team's summer training there.

Doing life regularly with the residents in their communities is a pivotal part of their work Morgan explained.

“A big strategy and pillar of the Eagles across the country is we want coaches to live in neighborhoods and bring pickup culture back and just doing life with people,” he said. “There’s no ‘pay to play.’ We try to take God’s encouragement to be a neighbor very seriously and we use that by rolling out a ball.”

The Lexington Eagles’ summer outreach also included an international trip to Medellín, Colombia. Each summer MAI’s soccer teams visit countries and engage in soccer ministry abroad. While in Medellín, the team partnered with a local soccer ministry in the area called Cosdecol that has its own stadium. Morgan shared the team connected with hundreds of young people daily who came to the stadium to participate in the Cosdecol’s soccer league. Morgan explained Cosdecol’s coaches intentionally live in different neighborhoods throughout 32 sectors across the country. This helps them connect with residents regularly through the soccer ministry Cosdecol provides.

“We went to Colombia and we watched two [of the global soccer tournament] games in Colombia with people in the streets where we’re staying,” he said. “We got the opportunity to do that and then share a little bit, which is sweet.” 

From their home base in Lexington, the team hosted watch parties, soccer camps, block parties, and used their presence to connect their outreach with the summer’s global soccer tournament. 

Valentín Gómez Coll, a neighborhood leader in the Lexington Eagles’ Cardinal Valley neighborhood, said his team connected with many people and took advantage of the moment. They organized penalty kick tournaments where people signed up to represent one of the 48 countries participating in the global soccer tournament. This event attracted many players to play as goalies or shooters, which gave his team the chance to have different tournaments for middle school students, high school students and adults.

“In addition to the 40+ players who participated in our tournaments in two different neighborhoods and got to hear about Jesus, others who showed up out of curiosity also got to hear about it,” Gómez Coll said. 

His team also hosted 11 watch parties, which he said was a great way for them to spend more time with guys from their neighborhoods and their team clubs, to connect deeply with them and develop more trust.

Morgan shared connecting with the parents of players is also an important part of the Lexington Eagles’ ministry outreach. This summer’s global soccer tournament gave them a unique opportunity to engage with parents who were open to spiritual conversations that arose around the event.

“I think the enlightening piece is when you really hone in on, ‘Hey, this [tournament is] every four years. When’s the last time you felt this excited?’” he said. “‘When it’s after the Congo game or after the USA’s playing, when’s the last time you felt like you’ve been around a community like this with people you’ve never met before over something that you all can agree on or you can all celebrate together?’” 

Morgan shared his team is focusing on parent ministry because parents are the number one people children are going to spend most of their time being around. 

“Getting the parents involved is what we are really trying to lean into specifically this year,” he said. “We can share the gospel twice a week, three times a week at our programs when we’re playing pick up, but how much is it going to be exaggerated if not only once they get home, they get to hear about Jesus from their parents.”

Next Steps: 

Continue reading how God worked through watch parties all over the country.

The tournament may be over, but there are always opportunities to talk about God in everyday conversations.