Becoming a World Cup City Champion
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Cru® invites every believer to consider how they can share Jesus with their neighbors during the most-watched sporting event in the world. More than 5 billion people globally will tune into the World Cup between June 11 and July 19. Cities, communities, and families will gather together to watch 48 of the world’s best soccer teams compete.
Cru’s Victory Beyond the Cup movement is an opportunity for believers to participate in or host a World Cup gathering in their homes, churches, and neighborhoods, and share the hope of Jesus through simple, relational outreach. Cru staff member Marchauna Rodgers is joining the movement by becoming a city champion in her community near Spokane, Washington.
“I don’t really know anything about soccer,” she said, "but I really care about the Great Commission.”
Marchauna got involved after a local World Cup committee for Seattle announced locations for nine fan zones across Washington State, and Spokane was listed as one of them. Right in the heart of downtown, soccer matches will play on a large screen surrounded by live music, games, and food.
“I was processing with a friend who’s been part of a fan zone in the past,” Marchauna said. “And it's kind of like having a state fair and a tailgate party.”
Seeing how her city is rallying around the World Cup inspired Marchauna to join Victory Beyond the Cup, even though she doesn’t normally follow soccer very closely. She’s spent the last couple of months reaching out to churches and Christian organizations throughout Spokane, inviting them to pray, host evangelism training, and challenge their communities to host a watch party with their neighbors.
“If we can help people in Spokane take one more step [toward Jesus],” Marchauna said, “[and help] Christians in Spokane take one more step to becoming multiplying disciplemakers, it is a win on an epic scale.”
Cru staff members all over the world are trusting God to mobilize 100,000 believers and 10,000 churches around Victory Beyond the Cup efforts and events. Whether you’re an individual looking to host in your home, a pastor interested in mobilizing your congregation, or a community leader who can connect others to the mission, those who join the movement will receive a free kit suited to their type of participation. Consider how you might engage in one of the biggest global events of 2026 by becoming a champion in your city today.
