As Houston welcomes the world for its first run as a FIFA World Cup host city, one of the tournament’s most openly Christian players is headed to the field at NRG Stadium.
Cody Gakpo, the Liverpool forward and Netherlands national team standout, is expected to be one of the most watched players when the Netherlands faces Sweden at noon Saturday, June 20, in a Group F match at Houston Stadium, the World Cup name for NRG Stadium.
The match comes during a historic month for Houston, which is hosting seven World Cup matches this summer. The city’s first-ever World Cup match took place June 14, when Germany faced Curaçao. Portugal and Democratic Republic of Congo meet in Houston today, June 17, before the Netherlands and Sweden arrive Saturday.
For soccer fans, Gakpo is known for his speed, size and scoring touch. For Christian fans, he has become known for something even more meaningful: his outspoken faith in Jesus Christ.
Gakpo, 27, was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and grew up in the city’s Stratum district. His father, a former footballer, was born in Togo and has Ghanaian roots. His mother is Dutch and played rugby for the Netherlands. In a personal essay for The Players’ Tribune, Gakpo wrote warmly about his parents’ story, his father’s move to Eindhoven and the family ties that still connect him to Togo.
He came through PSV Eindhoven’s youth system, became one of the club’s brightest young players and signed with Liverpool in January 2023. Since then, his platform has grown far beyond Dutch soccer.
His faith has grown with it.
Gakpo has spoken openly about prayer, Scripture and church, describing Christianity as part of his daily life. In comments reported by CBN News, he said, “I try to read the Bible every day, I pray every day, I like to go to church, and I read many books about the faith.”
He has also described the Bible as a source of peace and direction. Sports Spectrum reported that Gakpo has said faith gives him peace and strength and that he often reads the Bible before going to sleep.
That faith has followed him from club soccer to the world stage.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Gakpo and fellow Netherlands forward Memphis Depay helped lead Bible studies with about 15 Dutch players. The gatherings included Scripture, prayer and conversations about how biblical passages applied to life and the pressure of the tournament.
“We often speak to each other about our faith, how we understand passages of the Bible which describe situations in life,” Gakpo said, according to CBN News. “This creates a bond among us teammates even if some of us do not know each other much yet.”
That image — elite athletes gathered in the middle of the world’s largest soccer event, opening the Bible together — gives Christian fans in Houston something powerful to follow as the Netherlands arrives in Texas.
Gakpo’s faith drew renewed attention in 2025, when Liverpool defeated Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title. After scoring Liverpool’s third goal, Gakpo celebrated by revealing a white undershirt with a clear message printed across the front: “I belong to Jesus.”
The moment quickly spread across social media and Christian sports outlets. It echoed a famous celebration by Brazilian soccer legend Kaká, who wore a similar message after AC Milan’s 2007 Champions League victory.
Gakpo received a “yellow card,” or an official warning from the referee in soccer, during the Liverpool celebration because players are not allowed to reveal religious, political or personal slogans on undershirts during matches. The English Football Association later reminded him of the rule but reportedly took no further action.
For Christian fans, the moment was powerful. At the peak of a championship celebration, in front of a global audience, Gakpo looked to Christ.
He later shared a message of gratitude on social media, writing that God had guided every step of the journey.
Gakpo is not the only Netherlands player whose faith has drawn public attention. Depay, the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer, has also spoken about Christianity and prayer. During the 2022 World Cup, Depay said his goal celebration — covering his ears and pointing upward — reflected his desire to live in the word of Jesus and shut out outside noise.
Together, Gakpo and Depay helped make faith a visible part of the Dutch team’s World Cup story.
These tributes are significant in Houston, where the World Cup has brought a global sporting celebration to a city with a deep Christian community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition in tournament history, with 48 teams competing across 104 matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Houston is hosting seven of those matches at Houston Stadium, including Netherlands vs. Sweden on Saturday.
The match also carries real weight in Group F. The Netherlands opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Japan, while Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1. That gives Saturday’s game added urgency as both teams try to move closer to the knockout rounds.
For Gakpo, the stage fits his track record. He scored in all three group-stage matches for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup and has continued to be one of the team’s most reliable attacking players in major tournaments.
When the Netherlands steps onto the field in Houston on Saturday, the match will bring flags, chants, pressure, national pride and the hope of a deep tournament run.
For Christian fans, it will also bring a player who has used some of the biggest moments of his career to speak openly about Scripture, prayer and belonging to Jesus.
In one of the world’s biggest sporting events, Gakpo has made his message clear.
Feature photo: Steindy (talk) 23:02, 30 March 2017 (UTC), CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
