July 27, 2026
Victory Beyond the Cup: FCA points fans to a greater victory beyond soccer’s biggest stage
Rick Isaiah, FCA Chief Field Officer:
‘Although the World Cup has come to an end, the relationships built during moments like these will have an eternal impact’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As FIFA World Cup excitement drew people together across the United States, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) helped churches use this rare global moment to remind fans that the greatest victory isn’t won on the pitch, but found in Jesus Christ.
Victory Beyond the Cup, an initiative led by Cru and Athletes in Action, brings together parachurch organizations to equip churches with resources and practical tools for Gospel outreach during the tournament. Through this partnership, FCA mobilized coaches, athletes and volunteers to engage their communities with the Gospel.
Rick Isaiah, FCA Chief Field Officer, stated, “Sport has a unique way of bringing people together across generations, cultures and backgrounds. Victory Beyond the Cup helps believers use those moments to move beyond the game itself and introduce people to the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Involvement first took shape in Harford County, Maryland. After an introductory gathering with local pastors produced enthusiasm but no clear outreach plan, FCA stepped in, inviting area churches to host World Cup watch parties that combined hospitality with Gospel presentations.
Two 15-year-old FCA soccer players became central to those efforts. Partnering with their church pastor, they helped organize the events, where families gathered to watch the matches, hear testimonies and explore questions of faith. They also invited younger athletes to FCA Camps and local Huddles, helping connect families with area churches.
To support this outreach, Harford County FCA invested in a large outdoor LED screen at its ministry office in Bel Air, transforming its parking lot into a gathering place where churches hosted 46 World Cup viewing events. The screen will continue serving future outreach efforts long after the tournament concludes.
According to Tommy Schumacher, Baltimore Area Director for FCA, “Every gathering included the Gospel, a testimony and people ready to welcome every guest with Christ’s love. One of our greatest joys was seeing local churches step forward, encourage one another and grow more confident sharing their faith together.”
The impact soon spread beyond Maryland. In New York, Hudson Valley FCA partnered with Victory Beyond the Cup, the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League and Eastern New York Youth Soccer to host a World Cup Festival and an official 3v3 Summer Series qualifying tournament for the Eastern New York State Championship. Athletes, families and soccer clubs gathered from across the region while local churches and FCA volunteers shared the Gospel.
For Vincenzo Pepe, FCA Hudson Valley New York Multi-Area Director, the event demonstrated sport’s ability to create connections that transcend church walls.
“The influence athletics has on an individual’s life is significant,” said Pepe. “Whether people attend church or identify as Christian or not, they are coming because they want to take part in an event that happens once every four years.”
Isaiah says stories like these reflect FCA’s vision of turning shared experiences into opportunities for eternal impact.
“Although the World Cup has come to an end, the relationships built during moments like these will have an eternal impact,” said Isaiah. “Whether on the practice field, during a game or at one of the world’s biggest sporting events, FCA sees every moment in sports as an opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ. That’s why we remain committed to equipping local churches, empowering athletes and helping believers faithfully share the Gospel wherever God opens the door.”
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Its mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. FCA’s guiding values are integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence.
Since 1954, FCA has used the powerful medium of sports and building relationships to reach the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is cultivating Christian principles by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same so that lives are changed for current and future generations.
Visit Fellowship of Christian Athletes at fca.org and on Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
###
To interview a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
