Driven by Faith: Curaçao Makes History at the 2026 World Cup

Published: June 17, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Curaçao National Football Team star Kenji Gorre relied on one Bible verse throughout his career leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

“I think sometimes we don’t realize what happens in the moment, but it’s the things that you understand after that actually impact you,” Gorre said on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast.

The verse he turns to is Romans 8:28. It reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“So, in the moment, I’m hurting, I’ve got doubt, I’ve got fear, I’ve got so many things that I’m experiencing inside of me that came out in that time that I realized, wow, like, if I didn’t actually go through this, I would have actually built my whole career upon the foundation of the identity of being a footballer,” he said.

“That would have really been detrimental to my character and my journey with the Lord if I did end up getting where I wanted, when I wanted it, because there was something that God had to do in me in order for me to be ready for when I actually got to where the Lord wanted me to be,” the forward added.

The Curaçao National Team is making history this World Cup as they are the smallest country to ever play in the tournament with a population of just 160,000 people. The team stunned Germany in the first 10 minutes of group play on Sunday.

Curaçao took an early 1-0 lead when “Livano Comenencia, a 22-year-old defender, delivered the historic strike for the Caribbean island,” Fox News Digital reported. Germany ultimately beat Curaçao 7-1 in the first match for the Caribbeans.

The team also made a big wave on social media as they joined Presence Revival “to worship Jesus and give all glory to God before heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the US.”

“Win or lose at the World Cup, they’ve already shown what it looks like to put God first. God is moving powerfully among this team. Several players have come to know Jesus personally in recent years. Others have been walking with Him for longer and are unashamed to share their faith. Their testimonies are impacting lives both on and off the pitch,” Presence Revival shared on social media alongside a video of the team worshipping.

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Whether Curaçao secures their first-ever World Cup victory against Ecuador on Saturday or not, the team’s historic journey is already defined by their unwavering faith and a shared commitment to giving all glory to God.

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