The FIFA World Cup is many things at once: sport, spectacle, business and entertainment. As an avid fútbol fan, every four years I (Alisha) delight in joining people from nearly every corner of the globe around a common, beautiful game. This year, however, that joy is tempered by U.S. immigration policies that have complicated participation for some international players, staff and fans. At a moment when we should be extending hospitality and rolling out the welcome mat, I wonder whether Lady Liberty’s voice has grown faint.

As Christians, we are called to see the world through the teachings of Jesus. When I watch the World Cup, I find myself returning to the lawyer’s question in Luke 10:29: “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), a story that challenged assumptions about insiders and outsiders, friends and enemies. Christians across the political spectrum would do well to revisit this familiar story.

Here are five things Jesus, the Good Samaritan Parable and World Cup teach us about neighbor love.

1. UNFAMILIARITY | Our neighbors are often people we know the least about

For many fans, the World Cup offers an introduction to countries they rarely think about. We hear unfamiliar languages, learn new histories and discover stories of perseverance, migration and hope. It becomes easier to care about people once we know their names and stories. (Shout out to Vozinha, the 40-year-old keeper from Cape Verde who saved 40 shots on goal in his first World Cup appearance!) 

Jesus’ listeners would have understood the shock of the Samaritan’s presence in the parable. He belonged to a group viewed with suspicion, yet he was the one who stopped, showed mercy and cared for the wounded traveler.

Sometimes our understanding of neighbor is limited by the boundaries of familiarity. Jesus invites us to expand our vision, reminding us that the people God calls us to love are often the people we know the least about.

2. DIVERSITY | Difference is not something to fear

The World Cup captivates in part because every nation brings something unique. Supporters sing different songs. Teams play different styles. Cultures celebrate in different ways. The beauty of the tournament comes from diversity, not uniformity. Who could forget the drone of the vuvuzela when South Africa hosted in 2010?

Scripture’s vision of God’s future reflects this reality. John describes “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” worshiping before God’s throne (Revelation 7:9).

The hospitality shown to Algeria’s national team in Lawrence, Kan., offers a glimpse of that vision. In spite of heightened scrutiny at U.S. borders, local residents welcomed Muslim and Arab visitors with incredible warmth and generosity.

The world often teaches us to fear difference. Jesus teaches us to receive it as a gift. The Samaritan did not need to become someone else to show compassion, nor did his difference prevent him from serving his neighbor.

3. RIVALRY | Competition does not require hostility

Soccer thrives on competition. Fans cheer passionately and players strive to win. Yet some of the most memorable World Cup moments happen after the final whistle when players exchange jerseys, opponents embrace and supporters share meals and conversations.

Scotland’s “Tartan Army” provides an inspiring example: their joyful presence in Boston transformed what could have been a cultural clash into a celebration! Their joyful bagpipes became the soundtrack of the city, and their attendance at a Red Sox baseball game warmed hearts. The question wasn’t baseball or soccer, but rather: why not both?

Followers of Jesus should be known for caring about people even when they do not share our identity, beliefs or loyalties. The Samaritan’s compassion crossed social, ethnic and religious boundaries. He demonstrated that disagreement and kindness are not mutually exclusive.

4. NATIONALISM | National pride becomes dangerous when it replaces neighbor love

There is nothing wrong with appreciating where we come from. Communities, cultures, and nations help shape who we are. The World Cup invites us to celebrate nations without worshiping them. This viral video is a prime example of this, showing Mexican fans joyfully crowd-surfing a lone South Korean supporter during street celebrations, earning praise online for its spirit of inclusivity and camaraderie.

Scripture repeatedly warns against misplaced allegiance. When Israel demanded a king “like other nations” (1 Samuel 8:5), God cautioned them about where such loyalties could lead. 

The World Cup sadly exposes the darker side of national identity through racism, hostility and exclusion. While nations establish borders and define citizenship, Jesus continually expands the circle of belonging, reinforcing that whenever our identity depends on someone else’s exclusion, we have lost our way.

As followers of Christ, we can celebrate our nation’s team while remembering that the supporters on the other side of the stadium are also people made in God’s image. Our flag may tell us where we come from, but the gospel tells us to whom we belong.

5. CITIZENSHIP | The kingdom of God has no away section

Every stadium has home supporters and visiting supporters. Every match divides people into sides, but the kingdom of God operates differently.

Jesus consistently crossed boundaries others considered fixed: he welcomed outsiders, spoke across ethnic and religious divides, and extended compassion beyond the limits of his society’s expectations.

This conviction lies at the heart of the Anabaptist tradition: the church is not defined by nationality, ethnicity or political affiliation but by discipleship to Jesus, and a Christian’s first allegiance belongs not to a nation-state but to Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. 

In a World Cup stadium, supporters naturally ask, “Which side are you on?” The church is called to ask a different question: “How can I serve my neighbor?”

A concluding prayer

Loving God, in a world organized around competition, rivalry and power, you call us to practice reconciliation, hospitality and mercy. The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that your concern is never confined to our tribe, denomination, nationality or political party. 

When Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, he is not asking us to identify those most like us. He is inviting us to recognize the dignity and humanity of people who may seem very different from us.

Thank you for the reminder offered through the World Cup: that our neighbors come from every nation, and that your kingdom is larger than every border we create. Teach us to be people who welcome the stranger, extend hospitality generously and show mercy freely.

A nation may decide who crosses its borders, but followers of Jesus have already been told how to receive the stranger: “Go and do likewise.” Amen.