Mark McKenzie - USMNT soccer player on the 2026 World Cup, his God story and discipleship
Sports Spectrum Podcast
Sports Spectrum
4.9 • 685 Ratings
🗓️ 5 June 2026
⏱️ 45 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Mark McKenzie from the United States Men's National Team is our guest on Sports Spectrum to talk about the upcoming World Cup and his faith in Jesus.
Topics:
02:29 - Excitement surrounding the World Cup
06:20 - The passion of soccer fans
11:06 - His journey to soccer as a kid
19:51 - Relying on God at an early age
25:21 - Mark shares his testimony
34:18 - Being intentional about his faith in the locker room
39:59 - Who is Jesus to Mark McKenzie
42:00 - The atmosphere in Los Angeles for the World Cup opening match
Special thanks to our friends at IJM. Join athletes, fans and IJM in the fight to end modern slavery. Because everyone deserves
the freedom to play. Visit ijm.org/freedomtoplay to learn more.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey guys, as the world comes together to celebrate the 2026 World Cup, International Justice Mission's Freedom to Play campaign |
| 0:08.3 | brings athletes and soccer fans together to help protect children from modern slavery and restore the freedom to play. |
| 0:17.3 | Over 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery. One in four is a child, and every one of them |
| 0:24.4 | deserves safety, dignity, and the freedom to play. So throughout the World Cup, IJM is shining a spotlight |
| 0:32.6 | on the millions of children enslaved today and inviting us to help restore the freedom that everyone |
| 0:39.5 | deserves. So join athletes, fans, and IJM in the fight to end modern slavery because everyone |
| 0:48.3 | deserves the freedom to play. Visit IJM.org slash freedom to play to learn more. That website again, IJM. |
| 0:57.7 | dot org slash freedom to play. Yeah, I don't play for the fame. I play for the king. |
| 1:05.4 | Yeah. Every step on the field, let the heavens ring. Gotesus in my heart so i run with a purpose |
| 1:11.6 | yeah this is sports spectrum |
| 1:14.6 | faith on the surface uh i don't play for the crowd i play for the king |
| 1:18.6 | yeah every rep every drill i give everything |
| 1:21.6 | uh from the locker room prayers to the lights that gleam |
| 1:25.6 | we raise his name uh welcome to the lights that gleam. Yeah, we raise his name. |
| 1:28.9 | Welcome to the team. |
| 1:36.0 | And now, here's your host, former NFL pro, old running back in Chicago Bears legend. |
| 1:37.8 | Matt Forte. |
| 1:42.3 | Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, what? |
| 1:45.0 | Welcome back to Sports Spectrum. I'm your host, Matt Forte. |
| 1:46.0 | I got my guy, Jason Ramon, my wife's counsel, as always. |
| 1:49.0 | And I'm excited, Jason, to talk today to Mark McKenzie, pro soccer player, U.S. men's team, |
| 1:55.0 | soccer player, who has been announced on the original, you know, the first roster. |
... |
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