What Does God Have to Do with Sports? Religion and Secularism in Professional Soccer and Football

This thesis explores the intersection of secularism and sport, specifically examining how secularism operates as a metaphorical combat between religion and nonreligion in the public sphere. Focusing on two major sports leagues, the NFL in the United States and Ligue 1 in France, this study analyzes how the respective nations’ approaches to secularism influence the role of religion in sports culture and the public lives of athletes.

In the U.S., where secularism often coexists with strong religious expressions in the public sphere, the NFL provides a unique case study of how religious practices, such as player prayers or public displays of faith, are integrated into the culture of the sport. In contrast, France’s strict interpretation of laïcité creates a different dynamic in Ligue 1, where religion is largely excluded from the public domain, especially in government and state-run spaces. This thesis argues that the difference in these secular frameworks shape not only the ways in which religion and sport intersect but also the cultural perceptions and acceptability of religious expression in these leagues.

Drawing on historical and sociological perspectives, the study frames secularism as a battleground where different conceptions of religious freedom and expression are contested. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding secularism not merely as a political or legal issue, but as an ongoing cultural combat that plays out in the realm of sports, where athletes, fans, and organizations negotiate the boundaries of faith and secular identity.