Did God Help Crystal Palace Win? God and the Beautiful Game

When Crystal Palace FC lifted the FA Cup last Saturday, it wasn’t just a footballing fairy tale - it felt, to some, like something deeper. A divine moment, even.

The 1-0 win over holders Manchester City FC was hard-fought, brilliant, and for most neutrals, delightfully welcome. Among the many talking points was the visible faith of several Palace players - including defender Joel Ward, whose wristband displaying Ephesians 3:20 has been shared widely by Christians on social media.

Did God Help Palace Beat Man City?

It’s a tempting thought. When players who love Jesus win something big, it can feel like a win for Christianity itself. But it’s worth pausing for a moment to think. Because if God helped Palace win, does that mean He ignored the prayers of believing Manchester City players, staff, or fans? Are we saying their faith wasn’t strong enough? Or that Palace’s believers wore the right verses and said the right prayers, and City didn’t? And what if Palace lose next time - will it mean their prayers didn’t work that day?

That’s not how God works.

Sometimes we can slip into thinking of God as a kind of spiritual referee - rewarding the side with more believers, louder prayers, or better Christian merchandise. But faith doesn’t guarantee silverware - just as hardship doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. God doesn’t promise us trophies or success in the way the world defines it. He promises His presence. He promises purpose. And He promises that whether we win or lose, we are never outside His love.

The Role That Faith Really Played

So no, Crystal Palace didn’t win because they’re Christians. They won because they played hard, executed their strategy, and they were the better team on the day.

But I think faith did play a role - just not the kind that necessarily always shows up on a scoresheet. When Palace players prayed on the pitch, it was a powerful picture of what it looks like to invite God into the moment. And that matters. Prayer doesn’t guarantee victory on the football field, but it can shape hearts, steady minds, and yes - even influence outcomes, though not always in ways we can measure or explain. Its power isn’t in controlling what happens, but in trusting the One who does.

When Christian players speak about their faith, we shouldn’t interpret that to mean, “God made us win”. More often, the players are saying something much deeper than this: “Win or lose, this game doesn’t define me. I belong to something bigger”.

Earlier this month, when Liverpool FC won the Premier League (praise God!), Cody Gakpo celebrated by lifting a shirt that read: “I belong to Jesus”. He wasn’t making a statement about football - he was making a statement about identity. And that kind of faith can indeed shape how you play - and how you live. It can help you stay grounded, stay calm under pressure, and treat others with respect, even in the heat of competition. And in that sense, it can have an impact on the game too. But it’s not a cheat code for winning. It’s more than that - it’s a compass for the journey of life.

And What About When You Lose?

To me, the most powerful expressions of faith aren’t always after the victory - but in the quiet, painful moments that follow a loss (and that should be good news for my Manchester City and Manchester United friends out there!).

When a player still kneels to pray after defeat. When a fan still believes. When someone facing something far more serious than football scores says, “This hurts - but I trust God anyway”.

That’s faith that goes beyond the scoresheet. That’s the kind of belief that doesn’t depend on the outcome - and maybe speaks even louder because of it.

So What Can We Take From This?

It is inspiring - and encouraging - to see elite athletes speak openly about their relationship with Jesus and give glory to God for their success.

But for the rest of us, let’s be careful not to turn God into a good luck charm, or treat prayer like a magic formula. Because Christian faith isn’t about performance - it’s about identity. It’s not ultimately about lifting the cup - it’s about knowing you belong to Jesus.

Win or lose, faith reminds us there’s more to life than just the final score in the beautiful game.

That’s the deeper victory. And it lasts long after the final whistle!