World Cup 2026

What a team!

by Claire Law

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To recognise the significance of the FIFA 2026 World Cup and to reflect on the value of teamwork in our own lives.  

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides accompanying this assembly (World Cup 2026) and the means to display them.

Assembly

1. Show Slide 1 – Welcome students to the assembly. 
2. I am sure that the theme of today’s assembly needs no introduction whatsoever!  The World Cup 2026! 
3. We are currently mid-tournament and have been witnessing a record number of teams from across the globe battling it out to be crowned football’s world champions. 
4. This year’s World Cup features 48 teams and, for the first time in its history, is being hosted by three nations:  Canada, Mexico and the USA.
5. England's men's footballers qualified back in October last year, after a 5-0 win against Latvia in the qualifiers.  Although it’s been 28 years since Scotland last qualified for the World Cup, they made it through to this World Cup after beating Denmark 4-2 in their qualifying match back in November last year.
6. Show Slide 2.
   But did you know that the modern game of football developed in the 1800s?  FIFA was founded soon after to govern international football competitions, ensuring the sport's global growth and uniformity in rules.
7. Show Slide 3. 
   This led to the first World Cup, which took place almost 100 years ago, in 1930.  In this tournament, the host country, Uruguay (shown here celebrating their win) lifted the trophy after winning 4-2 against Argentina.
8. Show Slide 4.
   It was 60 years ago that England won the FIFA World Cup.  Here we see England captain Bobby Moore collecting the World Cup Trophy from Queen Elizabeth II back in 1966.

Time for reflection

Let’s pause for a moment to think about what we can learn from this World Cup. 

For the first time, 3 nations are working together to host the tournament. This collaborative approach means the 48 teams and thousands of fans who will watch the matches live will be spread across three countries.  This reduces the strain on hotels and transportation in any single location and reduces the need to build new costly infrastructure.  3 countries will get the chance to benefit from the economic boost to travel, hospitality, restaurants, and entertainment business that the World Cup brings. Three are better than one, it seems!

This collaborative approach parallels what we’ve been seeing on the pitch. The best football teams in the world know that they need to work collaboratively. The most successful teams often aren't those with the best single player, but rather a team of players who can work together and work cohesively as a group rather than as a collection of individuals.  Shared goals matter more than individual talent for successful teams. There are many examples of teamwork in football. A few examples could be the 2019–2020 Liverpool squad, known for their coordinated attack; or Barcelona in their ‘tiki-taka’ era.  More recently, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) transitioned from a star-studded group to a highly cohesive unit, winning the Champions League in 2024/25. 

Show Slide 5.

This team-first mentality is reflected in the Bible.  In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read: ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour’.  We also read the phrase ‘a cord of three strands is not quickly broken’.  

These words help to remind us that teamwork and collective effort can be a powerful force.  Being part of a team, part of a community, rather than going it alone helps us to support ourselves and others. 

Show Slide 6. 

The Bible also uses the analogy of a body, made up of many parts – hands, feet, head and so on, to describe the teamwork of being a church community. 

In the book of 1 Corinthians, we read: ‘For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ, there are many parts, yet one body. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it’.
This analogy reminds us that working together as one united body makes more sense than a hand, or a foot going alone.  We work better as a team.

So, let’s  consider the role of teamwork in our own lives.

Are we trying to battle through life as a lone wolf, a star player?
Whilst that can seem tempting when we’re in great form, it leads to all sorts of problems if we face difficulty.

Pause to allow time for reflection.

Or are we able to see the power of working as a group, as a team, as a collective?

Pause to allow time for reflection.

Do we know who has our back, and is on our side if we are in difficulty?

Pause to allow time for reflection.

Who could we support and encourage, if they faced challenges?

Pause to allow time for reflection.

How important is it to us to be part of a faith community, or a team so that we can share our faith and beliefs with others? 

Pause to allow time for reflection.

If we recognise that being part of a team, a community, is something that we want to work on; what actions can we take today to be more of a team player? 

Pause to allow time for reflection.

Prayer

Dear God,
We pause to thank you for the many nations and people who have been part of the World Cup. 
The players and managers, and the club support teams, and the fans. 
The event has brought people together.
What a wonderful opportunity to remind us that being part of a team can bring strength and effectiveness to our work and efforts. 
We pray for peace and unity in the world.
May the spirit of celebration and community continue long after the World Cup. 
Please help us to be people who encourage and support each other, rather than people who try to go it alone. 
Amen