A "Passion" for Soccer

For many players and supporters alike, soccer is a religion. World Cup organizers FIFA have not overlooked this, and the world soccer body will work closely with churches and religious organizations during the event.

For the opening ceremonies, which are, for many, just as much of a highlight as the games, FIFA had an ingenious idea. The ceremonies should be unparalleled, so the director of the mammoth Oberammergau Passion Play, Christoph Stückl, has been asked to stage the celebration of soccer in Munich on June 9, when Germany faces a yet to be determined opponent.

Stückl (photo) should be the right man for the job, considering that he has to manage hundreds of actors in the play that takes place once every 10 years and covers the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Munich, over 2,000 performers will be used for the entertainment before the opening game.

Despite such sparkling credentials, divine inspiration may be needed. Stückl told German television broadcaster N24 that he was startled by the assignment because he "knows nothing about soccer."

Seat in the pews instead of the stands

The opening ceremonies are important for FIFA, but what endures in the memories of over 2 billion soccer fans worldwide is what happens on the pitch. Some will come to Germany without tickets just to experience the flair of the 64 matches. They can go to bars to watch, and there are official FIFA World Cup parties in the 12 host cities.

But if a little more serenity is required, fans need only make their way to one of 16,000 churches or parish halls in Germany. The Swiss sports agency Infront, which holds the TV rights to the competition, has granted one of Germany's two major churches permission to show all the final matches in June and July next summer.

"Thanks to its agreement with Infront, Germany's Evangelical Church has ensured that churches will be able to show matches on a big screen if they wish to do so, provided the necessary organization is in place," said minister Hans-Georg Ulrichs on the FIFA World Cup Web site.

Ulrichs, a former striker for Concordia Ihrhove in East Frisia and currently player for the Baden Ministers' XI, has support at all levels for the project that he views as an essential part to the church's community work during the tournament. Wolfgang Huber, head of the Evangelical Church in Germany, calls soccer "a vital part of life."

Germany's second major church also on the ball

While most German players don't wear their faith on their sleeves during a match, those from Catholic countries such as in South America, but also Southern Europe, make a sign of the cross or kiss a cross before a game, after a goal, or before a penalty kick.

Together with Father Hans-Gerd Schutt, Ulrichs is looking for ways for both churches to present a message that most soccer supporters can hear.

"We are currently at an advanced stage of planning a large-scale cross-denominational service in Munich at the start of the competition," Ulrichs added. "The end of the tournament will also see a themed communal event in Berlin organized by the two major churches."