They are among the most recognizable names in world football. But before every match, before the cameras and the crowd noise and the weight of an entire nation's expectations, Bukayo Saka, Marc Guéhi, Eberechi Eze, and Ivan Toney do something together that has nothing to do with tactics.
They pray.
The four England players are often referred to within the squad as the "Bible Brothers" or "God squad" - a group of committed believers known for praying together and holding Bible studies during international camps and tournaments. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, they are doing it again.
Saka, 24, said nightly Scripture reading reminds him that "God's plan is perfect" and allows him to take the pitch without nervousness entering his second World Cup. His Instagram bio has long said what his faith means to him: "#GodsChild."
Guéhi, 25 and the son of a South London pastor, is known for inscribing Bible verses onto his boots - including "Isaiah 54:17" on his Manchester City debut.
He made global headlines when, as captain at Crystal Palace, he risked disciplinary action from the Football Association for writing "I love Jesus" and "Jesus loves you" on his rainbow armband during the Premier League's LGBT inclusion campaign.
Eze's story is one of answered prayer. When he was released from Arsenal's junior academy at just 13 years old, his mother prayed that one day "the reverse would happen." His return to Arsenal in 2025 was, by his own account, exactly that. He is known for pointing skyward after goals - a gesture that needs no explanation.
Together, the Bible Brothers use hotel Bible studies and pre-match prayers not just as personal devotion but as a way to forge unity within the squad - a reminder that what binds them runs deeper than a shared jersey.
England's opening match at the 2026 World Cup is against Croatia on June 17. When they step onto that pitch, at least four of them will do so having already done what matters most to them first.
