Canada Heads into World Cup Without Chaplaincy as Calls Grow for Spiritual Support in Global Game

Newsroom (29/05/2026 Gaudium Press )    As Canada prepares to host and compete in one of the largest sporting spectacles in history, a significant gap remains behind the scenes: the absence of a designated chaplain for its men’s national soccer team.

The FIFA World Cup, kicking off June 11 across Canada, the United States and Mexico, will unite players, coaches and staff from 48 national teams in a celebration of global sport. Yet amid the scale and diversity of the tournament, structured spiritual support for athletes remains rare—particularly at the international level.

For Rev. Brad Kenney, founder and executive director of Soccer Chaplains United, the situation reflects a broader issue that extends far beyond Canada. He describes the state of national team chaplaincy worldwide as “dire,” noting that while some professional clubs have embedded chaplains into their operations, national teams have largely lagged behind.

A Stark Contrast with the United States

Kenney points to the United States as a rare exception. As one of the host nations for the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. has developed a relatively robust network of volunteer chaplains serving both its men’s and women’s national teams, as well as youth squads.

According to Kenney, roughly 10 chaplains are currently engaged across the U.S. Soccer system—a level of organization and commitment not commonly found elsewhere. Countries with rich football traditions, including Canada, England and Scotland, have yet to establish a consistent chaplaincy presence at the national team level.

“Even though soccer and football chaplaincy happens there,” Kenney explains, “it isn’t a national team presence.”

This disparity is not due to a lack of interest or recognition of athletes’ needs, but rather the inherent challenges of operating within international football.

Structural Barriers to Chaplaincy

Unlike club teams, which function as year-round organizations with established infrastructure, national teams assemble only periodically. Players are called together for short, intense windows of training and competition before dispersing back to their respective clubs around the world.

This structure creates logistical hurdles for chaplaincy programs, which depend on consistent relationship-building and sustained presence.

“Club soccer has ownership as a business,” Kenney notes. “It’s seen differently than a national team that has players gather for a short, intense period of time, and then they scatter again.”

As a result, even when chaplains do provide support to national teams, it is often informal, temporary or reliant on personal connections rather than institutional frameworks. Kenney cites examples such as a U.S.-based chaplain assisting Jamaica’s national team, but emphasizes that such arrangements are sporadic rather than systemic.

The Human Side of Elite Competition

For those working in chaplaincy, the need for spiritual and emotional care is not theoretical—it is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of athletes.

Kenney recalls the 2010 MLS Cup Final, when his Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas in Toronto. While celebrating with the winning team, he observed another chaplain consoling players on the losing side—offering support in a moment of disappointment and vulnerability.

That experience, he says, captures the essence of chaplaincy: being present in both triumph and defeat.

Drawing on Psalm 23, Kenney reflects on the metaphor of “walking through the valley of the shadow,” applying it to the realities players face throughout their careers. These include injuries, contract uncertainty, frequent relocation, unmet expectations and even personal loss.

“Chaplains mirror the activity and action of God in walking alongside these athletes,” he says, “whether they are athletes, coaches, staff members or family.”

A Missed Opportunity on the Global Stage?

The World Cup represents far more than a tournament—it is a cultural and spiritual crossroads, bringing together people from every corner of the globe. For Kenney, this diversity underscores the importance of providing care that addresses not only physical and mental well-being, but also spiritual needs.

“Think of the billions of viewers that watch the global game,” he says. “We see all tribes, nations and tongues coming into this one place in need of support.”

The absence of structured chaplaincy programs at such a moment, he argues, risks overlooking a key dimension of athlete care.

Kenney acknowledges that resistance persists in some quarters, often framed by the belief that religion does not belong in sports environments such as locker rooms. However, he challenges this notion by emphasizing the holistic nature of human well-being.

“To neglect or put aside spiritual care is not holistically caring for our athletes—it’s shortsighted, and it misses the mark,” he says.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With the World Cup returning to North America, Kenney sees a unique opportunity to expand the role of chaplaincy in international football. His organization, Soccer Chaplains United, currently includes 30 chaplains serving teams at various levels—from Major League Soccer to youth academies—but he hopes to see this model extend to national programs.

Achieving that goal will likely require both institutional support and cultural change, including greater recognition from governing bodies such as FIFA and increased professionalization of chaplaincy roles through training and standards.

For now, however, uncertainty remains.

“We have this momentous opportunity, likely the biggest tournament of our lives,” Kenney says. “And I think we are going to walk away going, ‘Did we miss an opportunity?’”

As Canada prepares to take the field on home soil, the question lingers: in the pursuit of excellence at the highest level, has the global game overlooked a vital element of care for those who play it?

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register