As the world tunes in to the World Cup, it’s no surprise that faith and religious fervor are on full display—after all, soccer has always been a stage for visceral emotion. But look at how the mainstream media spins this narrative! Outlets like CNN and NBC act as though they’re on a holy crusade, draping the drama in a cloak of virtue. They want you to believe that athletes praying for victory or hurling theological insults at opponents is noble rather than a window into the raw competitiveness of the game.

Meanwhile, Fox News is dogged about framing this religious fervor as a heartwarming story about hope and unity. Let’s be real; it’s competitive sport, not a Sunday service. When did we start romanticizing the spiritual theatrics on the pitch as something other than a distraction from the tireless grind of nationalism and rivalry, which is frankly what makes sports exhilarating?

What we’re really seeing is the same predictable agenda—using religion as a narrative prop to paint an evolving story that distracts from the deeper issues at play. Heaven forbid they address the actual controversies surrounding wealth disparity, corruption in FIFA, or even the mistreatment of workers in host countries. Let’s call it what it is: a shameful diversion. So, the next time you see a player fervently praying or cursing out the competition, remember, the media is only feeding into a wider narrative that there’s more sanctity in sports than society could ever provide.