The third episode of the ongoing nine-part docuseries on Christian Pulisic reveals a personal moment. Seated at a dining table adorned with blooming pink orchids, Pulisic engages with a friend who asks him, “What time is it?”
He responds, “Bible time,” while flipping through his Bible, a pencil resting between his fingers and a notepad ready beside him. A distinct cross hangs from his necklace, symbolizing his faith.
Pulisic’s devotion is no secret. He frequently shares images of highlighted Bible verses on his Instagram account.
Moreover, Weston McKennie, another standout from the United States men’s national team, succinctly states his belief in his Instagram bio: “All glory to God.” In his profile picture, he gestures with both index fingers pointing skyward, showcasing his diamond cross earrings.
Defender Chris Richards has also been open about his spirituality, revealing that he and around ten teammates from Crystal Palace engage in group prayers and Bible study before matches.
When goalkeeper Matt Freese joined the national team, he casually mentioned having met Pulisic during a Bible study session, highlighting the team’s shared faith.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, a practicing Catholic, typically sports a bracelet featuring a patron saint. His dedication was evident when, upon taking charge of Espanyol in 2009, he trekked 7.5 miles to the Montserrat religious shrine to pray for the club’s salvation from relegation—a request that was ultimately answered.
The previous World Cup roster included various players with distinct beliefs: Walker Zimmerman, whose father is a pastor and who openly expresses his faith; Yunus Musah, a Muslim who observed fasting during Ramadan even on match days; and DeAndre Yedlin, a practicing Buddhist who led teammates in barefoot meditations on the pitch after each game in Qatar.
This trend marks a significant shift in how the team publicly engages with spirituality and personal beliefs.
While historical data suggests that several past national team players were likely religious, few discussed their beliefs publicly. Clint Dempsey gave a rare interview about his faith to a religious publication during the 2014 World Cup. Tim Howard was associated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes but rarely mentioned his beliefs publicly. Jozy Altidore acknowledged his upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness but did not elaborate. Landon Donovan is known to be an atheist.
Aside from these instances, very few prominent figures from the national team have openly shared their convictions. To this day, it remains unclear if players like Cobi Jones, Tab Ramos, Alexi Lalas, or Marcelo Balboa held any religious beliefs. Similarly, the faith of Michael Bradley and DaMarcus Beasley is also a mystery, as they chose not to disclose it.
The current openness about faith is nonetheless striking.
Importantly, this newfound candidness comes amid a political environment where the ruling party often leverages visible religiosity. The Trump administration has empowered Christian nationalists while pursuing a vision of a nation that, despite its constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, increasingly adopts an overtly Christian identity.
The national team’s leading players genuinely express their faith, seemingly doing so with good intentions. Their openness reflects a broader trend among contemporary American athletes who now feel more at ease expressing their beliefs compared to their predecessors.
While it’s not unheard of for professional athletes to incorporate religion into their public personas, this trend represents a departure for a national team, which typically adheres to different standards of public conduct. US Soccer had previously prohibited kneeling during the national anthem, only to rescind the ban three years later as public sentiment shifted. The argument against kneeling was that it was distinct from protesting while representing a franchise. Similarly, using the World Cup platform to promote religious beliefs complicates the notion of sporting neutrality.
Past efforts to merge sports and religion have occasionally backfired, such as Team USA’s overly militaristic display at the World Baseball Classic, which alienated fans.
However, one could argue that the willingness of the team’s stars to express their true selves during these high-profile moments is a positive development. This current generation of US players has often shied away from media engagements that could showcase their personalities and articulate their perspectives. Some have even suggested that this team lacks relatability.
Regardless, as the nation becomes more acquainted with its men’s national team in the upcoming weeks, it will gain deeper insights into their beliefs and values, surpassing what has been known in the past.
- Leander Schaerlaeckens is the author ofThe Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, which is currently available. He serves as a professor at Marist University.
