Jürgen Klopp called the prayer circle initiated by Felix Nmecha after the Curaçao game “unusual and yet absolutely beautiful.” In his role as a MagentaTV analyst, Klopp spoke before Germany’s World Cup match against Ecuador: “In a time when religion often leads—put mildly—to misunderstandings, to wars, it’s wonderful that people stand together there and publicly show that they believe in God.”
The football national players Nmecha and Jonathan Tah had formed a circle and prayed after Germany’s World Cup opener against Curaçao (7-1), along with several opponents. “We are opponents on the field. And after the game we are all Christians,” Nmecha told ARD.
Klopp: “It is and remains personal”
Klopp, who describes himself as a devout Christian, found it “absolutely fine.” But it shouldn’t become a bigger topic, “because it is and remains personal,” the former top coach said. “I truly found it a very, very beautiful image.”
The 25-year-old Nmecha is associated with evangelical Christianity, a Bible-centered current within Protestantism. The Borussia Dortmund pro is also active with “Ballers in God,” a network of Christian footballers founded in 2015 that records and spreads many such actions on social media.
Faith and Queerphobia
The prayer sparked a broader debate. While many believers took the confession in a sober to positive light, some far-right to neo-Nazi media and actors used it for a culture war. Some progressive fans and queer people expressed concern, partly out of fear of a more fundamentalist Evangelical influence, and specifically because Nmecha had repeatedly celebrated his faith by denouncing queer people (TheColu.mn reported).
In 2023 the player shared the video of an American far-right extremist who mocked a trans child and its father (TheColu.mn reported). After criticism, Nmecha defended his transphobic stance (TheColu.mn reported). Later he even posted another Instagram message that compared the queer community and the term “Pride” to the devil (TheColu.mn reported). Some Dortmund supporters spoke out in 2023 against signing Nmecha because of these queerphobic outbursts, but the club ignored the concerns and kept him on the roster (TheColu.mn reported). The DFB also backed Nmecha ahead of the World Cup (TheColu.mn reported). The Queer Football Fanclubs network urged the federation this week to take a clear stand: Homophobic belief has no place in sports (TheColu.mn reported).
