In the latest episode of the ongoing Pulisic documentary series, Christian Pulisic is seen seated at a table adorned with blooming pink orchids.
A friend, camera in hand, asks him, “What time is it?”
Pulisic replies, “Bible time,” as he flips through his Bible, a pencil held between his fingers, with a notepad ready beside him. His signature cross necklace hangs prominently around his neck.
The importance of Pulisic’s faith is not a newfound revelation. He has shared images of highlighted Bible verses on his Instagram account.
Weston McKennie, another star of the United States men’s national team, conveys his beliefs succinctly in his Instagram bio: “All glory to God.” His profile picture captures him pointing skyward with both index fingers, while diamond earrings shaped like crosses adorn his ears.
Defender Chris Richards has also been vocal about his spirituality. He once mentioned that he and approximately ten of his Crystal Palace teammates gather for prayers before matches and engage in Bible study sessions.
When goalkeeper Matt Freese joined the USMNT, he casually noted that he had previously met Pulisic during a Bible study gathering.
The team’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is a practicing Catholic who often sports a bracelet featuring a patron saint. Upon taking over Espanyol in 2009, he famously trekked 7.5 miles to the Montserrat religious shrine near Barcelona to pray for his team’s salvation from relegation, a prayer that ultimately proved effective.
During the last World Cup, the USMNT’s lineup included Walker Zimmerman, the son of a pastor who openly shares his faith; Yunus Musah, a Muslim who fasted on match days during Ramadan; and DeAndre Yedlin, a Buddhist who led barefoot post-match meditations on the pitch after every game in Qatar.
This evolution marks a significant shift in how the team publicly addresses spirituality and personal beliefs.
While many past national team stars likely held religious beliefs, few, if any, openly expressed them. Clint Dempsey reportedly only discussed his faith in a single interview with a religious media outlet around the 2014 World Cup. Tim Howard was affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes but seldom talked about his beliefs publicly. Jozy Altidore mentioned being “raised as a Jehovah’s Witness” late in his career but did not elaborate. Meanwhile, Landon Donovan is known to be an atheist.
Aside from these few instances, many prominent figures within the national team have maintained silence on their beliefs. We still lack clarity on the spiritual views of players like Cobi Jones, Tab Ramos, Alexi Lalas, Marcelo Balboa, Michael Bradley, and DaMarcus Beasley. Of course, they had no obligation to share their beliefs if they chose not to.
The contrast with the current team is striking.
It is worth noting that the USMNT’s openness about their faith occurs against a backdrop of a government that, when advantageous, promotes overt religiosity. The Trump administration has emboldened Christian nationalists, seeking to transform a constitutionally secular nation into one that openly embraces Christianity.
The national team leaders’ declarations regarding their religious beliefs appear genuine. They seem to express these sentiments from a place of sincerity. This openness also reflects a broader trend among contemporary American athletes who feel increasingly empowered to voice their opinions compared to their predecessors.
While it is not unprecedented for professional athletes to incorporate their faith into their public image, it marks a notable change within a national team context, where public engagement norms differ significantly. US Soccer previously prohibited kneeling during the national anthem, only to rescind that ban three years later when societal attitudes shifted. This demonstrates how expressing faith during a World Cup could complicate the concept of sporting neutrality.
Instances where this has gone awry, such as Team USA’s awkward embrace of militarism during the World Baseball Classic, have sometimes led to public backlash.
However, one could argue that the confidence displayed by the team’s stars in expressing their true selves during significant events is a positive development. This current generation of US players has often been perceived as indifferent to media opportunities that could showcase their articulate and interesting personalities. Consequently, there are claims that this team lacks likability.
Regardless, as the nation becomes more acquainted with its men’s national team in the coming weeks, it will likely discover more about their convictions than any previous iteration.
- Leander Schaerlaeckens, the author ofThe Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, is currently teaching at Marist University.
Leander Schaerlaeckens is the author ofThe Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, and he teaches at Marist University.
