Victory Beyond the Cup: World Cup Outreach – Teenage Version
This occasion is so big we can only handle it every four years. (It may be because the World Cup only comes every four years, but that’s beside the point!)
If you are planning a World Cup outreach, we strongly encourage you to order the Victory Beyond the Cup kit at victorybeyondthecup.com. The kit provides training, strategy, training videos and materials that will help you put together a meaningful outreach event.
This page is meant to supplement that kit, especially if you are planning something for middle school or high school students. The materials below offer ideas and tools that can help you shape a World Cup event that connects well with teenagers. Together, the kit and these ideas can help you create a fun and impactful outreach.
What Are We Aiming For?
Fun and impact.
The average event will center around three simple things:
- the World Cup game
- the food, and
- the relationships
Start by thinking about a group of people you are already connected to. It could be a team, a school organization, a group of friends, neighbors, your youth group, or another circle of students who already know each other. The goal is to gather people in a relaxed environment where friendships can grow and spiritual conversations can naturally happen.
What Do We Have in This Package?
Games
- Official Soccer Rules Game
- Soccer Ball Knee Dribble Contest
- Soccer Ball Pylon Dribble Contest
- Game Prediction Competition
We recommend offering small prizes for winners. They do not need to be expensive. The point is simply to add energy and fun to the event.
Trivia
There is also a World Cup Trivia game for the audience to guess the answers. One rule that makes it more fun: no phones allowed.
Trivia works great during breaks in the game and helps keep everyone engaged.
Videos and Halftime Program
Halftime is a natural moment to pause the event and turn the conversation toward faith.
During the halftime program, you could:
- Share a short personal testimony
- Show a video testimony from an athlete
- Lead into a clear presentation of the gospel
A helpful place to find athlete testimonies is Iamsecond.com, which includes many powerful faith stories from athletes and public figures.
Gospel Presentation
We recommend using The Four as a tool for presenting the gospel to the friend group.
The Four provides a simple way to explain the message of Jesus and start spiritual conversations with friends. CLICK HERE to find videos and other resources that can help you become familiar with it before your event.
Additional Activities
Not everyone who attends will be fully interested in the game itself. Some students may simply enjoy being with friends. To help those guests stay engaged, consider offering a few extra activities such as:
- Mario Strikers League Battle (Nintendo)
- FIFA FC or FIFA International on a game system
- Human Foosball
These options allow students to participate in the event in ways that feel comfortable for them.
The goal is to gather people in a relaxed environment where friendships can grow and spiritual conversations can naturally happen.
Gaming Centered Party Version
In some groups, students may be more excited about playing soccer video games than watching the actual World Cup match. If that is true for your group, you can still use the momentum of the World Cup by hosting a video game tournament instead.
You could organize a tournament using games like FIFA, Rocket League, or other soccer themed games and create your own “World Cup” competition for the night. Students can compete in teams, advance through brackets, and enjoy the same excitement and friendly competition.
This kind of event can still include food, fun, and a halftime moment where you share a testimony and the gospel.
We have two helpful resources you can use if you want to run a gaming focused version of the outreach:
- How to Use the World Cup for a Video Game Tournament – A practical guide for organizing a gaming event around the World Cup.
- How Gaming Can Open Doors for Spiritual Conversations – An article that explores how video games can create natural opportunities to talk about faith with students.
Capturing the Moment
When something big captures the attention of the culture, it creates a unique opportunity. Events like the World Cup bring people together, spark excitement, and give us a natural reason to gather with friends. Moments like this can also open doors for deeper conversations about faith.
By using the energy around the World Cup, you can create an environment where students have fun together and also hear about Jesus in a meaningful way. We hope this guide helps you make the most of the moment and create an outreach that students will remember long after the final whistle.
Next Step
Looking for more ways to reach students? Explore GoToTheCampus.com for outreach ideas, student training, Bible studies, and practical resources to help teenagers share the gospel on their campuses.
Check out Gotothecampus.com