Cru has launched a nationwide initiative tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, seeking to equip 100,000 Christians and 10,000 churches in the United States to host watch parties and use the tournament as a setting for faith conversations.
The campaign, called “Victory Beyond the Cup,” was announced Monday with organizers saying that the effort is designed to encourage believers to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers into their homes or churches during the monthlong tournament, which begins June 11 and concludes July 19.
The initiative is being led by Cru in partnership with organizations including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Alpha USA and I Am Second.
Heather Reddy, executive director of Victory Beyond the Cup, said organizers see the World Cup as a rare global event capable of bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds.
“With so many people interacting with the World Cup, whether watching with friends, checking scores, or even attending a game in one of the United States’ host cities, the opportunity for Gospel impact is too large to miss,” Reddy said when announcing the campaign.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to attract one of the largest audiences in sports history. Organizers behind the Christian outreach campaign cited estimates that as many as 5 billion people worldwide could follow the tournament through broadcasts and online coverage.
According to the Victory Beyond the Cup website, participants can request free physical or digital “host kits” intended to help organize watch parties. The materials include planning guides, discussion cards, printable tournament brackets, recipes from different countries and prayer resources.
The physical kits are available in English and Spanish for U.S. shipping addresses, while digital kits are offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
The gatherings are opportunities for relationship-building and conversation rather than formal evangelistic events, organizers say. The specific goal of the watch parties may vary depending on the host, but the idea is that the events would lead people “towards hope.”
Cru also said it has created an online community platform through Mighty Networks to connect participants involved in the campaign across the country.
The campaign is the latest example of Christian ministries organizing outreach efforts around major international sporting events, which often draw large crowds and offer opportunities for starting conversations around faith. Churches and Christian organizations have previously coordinated evangelistic initiatives connected to Olympic Games and past FIFA World Cups.
