Germany 06
Praying through the World Cup
The World Cup is finally here! What is arguably the world’s greatest sporting event is kicking off this week in Germany. Soccer, Fussball, Futbol. This is where the world comes
to play.
Now, here’s the challenge: in the coming weeks, we will see unique pairings of national sides on the field together. Most of the countries thus represented have their own IFES movements – the International Fellowship of Evangelical Student movements of which Inter-Varsity Canada and InterVarsity/USA are but two members.
Every time you watch a game, pray for students like yourself in the countries represented on the field. Don’t know anything about that country? Even better! Here is a worldwide IFES Prayer Map. Use it to pray for the world.
To get you started, here are a few countries. For each, we have listed why they might deserve to win the World Cup, and how North American students can pray for them.
Poland Group A
IFES Region: Central Europe
FIFA Region: Union des Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA)
Poland deserves to win the World Cup because they will start off in the host country’s group. German fans will be giving a home field advantage to Germany – surely an intimidating prospect. But if Poland makes it to the final in Berlin, they will only be an hour’s drive from home.
Poland will be playing June 9, 14, and 29, against Ecuador, Germany, and Costa Rica, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for Chrzescijanskie Stowarzyszenie Akademickie (ChSA), the IFES ministry in Poland. Specifically you can pray …
Paraguay Group B
IFES Region: Latin America
FIFA Region: Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol
Paraguay deserves to win the World Cup because this landlocked country is bordered by South America’s two soccer powerhouses, Brazil and Argentina. If Paraguay wins, that means neither neighbor does.
Paraguay will be playing June 10, 15, and 20, against England, Sweden, and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for Grupos Bíblicos Unidos del Paraguay (GBUP), the IFES ministry in Paraguay. Specifically you can pray …
Argentina Group C
IFES Region: Latin America
FIFA Region: Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol
Argentina deserves to win the World Cup because of their heartbreaking experiences
in the last two world cups. Argentina is one of the perennial favorites, but
their win in 1986 was too long ago.
Argentina will be playing June 10, 16, and 21, against Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for ABUA, the IFES ministry in Argentina. Specifically you can pray …
Angola Group D
IFES Region: English and Portuguese Speaking Africa
FIFA Region: Confédération Africaine de Football
Angola deserves to win the World Cup because this is their first visit. The
war-torn country has been steadily improving, and a win this summer would greatly
bolster the prospects of African soccer.
Angola will be playing June 11, 16, and 21, against Portugal, Mexico, and Iran, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for GBECA, the IFES ministry in Angola. Specifically you can pray …
Ghana Group E
IFES Region: English and Portuguese Speaking Africa
FIFA Region: Confédération Africaine de Football
Ghana deserves to win the World Cup because winning means escaping the toughest Group, with two teams ranked in the top five.
Ghana will be playing June 12, 17, and 22, against Italy, the Czech Republic, and the United States, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for Ghafes, the IFES ministry in Ghana. Specifically you can pray …
Australia Group F
IFES Region: South Pacific
FIFA Region: Oceania Football Confederation
Australia deserves to win the World Cup because the Socceroos are first-timers in the World Cup. Oceania doesn’t even get an automatic invitation; Australia had to survive a playoff with Uruguay to make it this far.
Australia will be playing June 12, 18, and 22, against Japan, Brazil, and Croatia, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for AFES, the IFES ministry in Australia. Specifically you can pray …
Togo Group G
IFES Region: French Speaking Africa
FIFA Region: Confédération Africaine de Football
Togo deserves to win the World Cup because the side is enduring an outbreak of chickenpox in the week before kickoff.
Togo will be playing June 13, 19, and 23, against Korea, Switzerland, and France respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Scolaires du Togo (GBUST), the IFES ministry in Togo. Specifically you can pray …
Ukraine Group H
IFES Region: Eurasia
FIFA Region: Union des Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA)
Ukraine deserves to win the World Cup because they qualified for the first time since their country emerged out of the Soviet Union. Ukraine also gave the world a model revolution last year, as students pressured a corrupt government into retirement.
Ukraine will be playing June 14, 19, and 23, against Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia, respectively. As you watch us, and cheer us on to victory, please pray for CCX, the IFES ministry in Ukraine. Specifically you can pray …
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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