USMNT Players Make Faith a Public Identity, Marking a Break From Past Generations
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
USMNT Players Make Faith a Public Identity, Marking a Break From Past Generations
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
Summary
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards are among U.S. men’s national team players openly foregrounding religion, with Bible study, prayer and faith messaging now visible around the squad.
That openness extends beyond players: goalkeeper Matt Freese said he met Pulisic at a Bible study, and coach Mauricio Pochettino is also publicly identified with Catholic practice.
The shift stands out because earlier USMNT generations rarely discussed personal belief publicly, even when some players were known to be religious.
The more explicit faith expression also fits a broader trend of American athletes feeling freer to show personal convictions, though doing so on a national team raises questions about neutrality and public representation.
As the team draws more attention in coming weeks, that visibility is likely to give fans a fuller picture of a squad long criticized as distant or hard to know.