'Strong Christian presence in elite football' - new research  

Seventy-five per cent of professional football clubs across England and Wales have Christian players in their first-team squads, according to study commissioned by Christians in Sport ahead of the World Cup

The study, supported by Eido Research, also revealed the extent of Christian activities taking place within elite football:

• 75 per cent of clubs within the top six tiers of men’s football include Christian players.
• 40 per cent of clubs regularly host events such as Bible studies and prayer meetings.
• From a 90 per cent response to the study from Premier League clubs, half reported regular Christian gatherings.
• More than a third of the activities specified above are player-led.

The research is based on feedback from 134 clubs (164 clubs were contacted, resulting in a response rate of 82 per cent). It is the first of its kind, and players formed 71 per cent of the respondents.

The landscape appears 'very different' from when Christians in Sport was established in 1976, the report notes, 'when there were, at best, only a handful of known Christian players across all professional leagues.'

Dr Graham Daniels, general director of Christians in Sport and a former footballer at Cambridge United, said, 'Christianity is not disappearing from professional football; it is far more present than most people realise. The professional game is often portrayed as a world shaped by money, fame and performance.

'What this research reveals is a different story. Across professional football, Christian players are gathering to pray, study the Bible and support one another.'

Elite-level footballers often have more cultural influence than the majority of public figures and senior politicians. A recent post featuring a group of Christian players at Arsenal has been seen millions of times with more than 240k likes.

Daniels added, 'Three-quarters of clubs have Christians in their first-team squads, and many are actively living out their faith within the pressures of elite sport.

'Perhaps the most striking finding is that, in an environment where identity is constantly tested by success, failure and public scrutiny, many players are looking beyond football itself for meaning, purpose and security.'

The study follows wider global research commissioned and facilitated by Christians in Sport into elite sport ministry across 88 countries, which identified football as the most significant sport for Christian engagement globally.

Researchers say the findings reveal a “changing landscape” in football culture and suggest increasing openness among players to discuss faith, identity and mental wellbeing.

Christians in Sport, whose vision is 'Reaching the world of sport for Christ', celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.


Stadium image | Vienna Reyes | Unsplash