YouVersion at the 2026 World Cup; Nations Compete for More Time in God’s Word
Coinciding with the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the YouVersion Bible app, which has been downloaded more than one billion times worldwide, is launching a global initiative aimed at connecting the excitement and enthusiasm of the world’s biggest football event with daily Bible study. In this plan, called the “Bible League,” users from different countries will compete with each other not based on goals and football points, but on the amount of time they spend in God’s Word.
This global challenge will run from June 11 to July 19, concurrent with the World Cup being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Organizers hope that millions of people, over the course of 39 days of competition, will strengthen the habit of daily Bible reading in their lives. Users who open the app for seven consecutive days will receive a special badge and increase their country’s score on the global leaderboard.
In this program, some of the world’s most well-known Christian footballers from different generations and nationalities are participating. “Kaká,” the former star of Brazil’s national team, “Juan Cuadrado” from Colombia, “Santiago Giménez” from Mexico, “Ronald Araújo” from Uruguay, and “Giorginio” from Italy are among the athletes who will share their personal experiences of God’s guidance in their professional and spiritual lives with users through daily Bible videos.
“Nando Valente,” YouVersion’s manager in Brazil, said about the goal of this initiative: “Great athletes don’t just show up on competition day; they work hard behind the scenes and even when no one is watching. Our spiritual life also requires the same level of commitment and daily persistence. This challenge is not just about sports; it is an effort to help people around the world create lasting habits for connecting with the Bible in their lives.”
“Pablo Langlois,” YouVersion’s manager for Latin America, also believes that global events often guide people toward deeper life questions. He said: “The World Cup directs billions of eyes to a single point, but behind every gaze are stories, pains, and dreams. The Bible has a message for each of these people.” He expressed hope that during these 39 days, people who have never read the Bible before will take their first step and discover a truth that can transform their lives.
YouVersion will also simultaneously provide a set of special study programs on the theme of sports in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Afrikaans to users. This content has been prepared in collaboration with local churches and Christian ministries and focuses on topics such as life’s purpose, perseverance in faith, and God-pleasing leadership. Organizers say the goal is not just to translate content, but to present the Bible’s message in a way that establishes deep communication with the culture and language of each community.
This initiative is being held as the 2026 World Cup, with 48 national teams and 104 matches, is considered the largest edition in the history of this competition and is expected to be followed by billions of people around the world. YouVersion hopes to use this unprecedented opportunity to spread the Gospel message to audiences who might, in normal circumstances, have less interaction with the Bible.
