Celebrating the start of a new football season with a religious service, led by Prof. Dr. Aladin El-Mafaalani, in the welcome tent of Borussia Dortmund's founding church, embracing football, faith, and community.
The bustling city of Dortmund, Germany, played host to a unique event on August 21, 2025, as the Borussia Dortmund (BVB) season-opener was accompanied by an ecumenical church service. The event, known as the "BVB Founder Church" project, aimed to bring football and faith together in an open, unifying atmosphere.
The service was held at the Church of the Holy Trinity, the founding church of BVB, despite ongoing renovation works. Due to these works, the event took place in the Welcome Tent and on the adjacent church grounds. Stefan Magh, from the Archbishop's General Vicariate in Paderborn, explained the plans on site.
The service was musically accompanied by Matthias "Kasche" Kartner, a singer-songwriter and BVB fan, who provided goosebump moments with his songs. Prof. Dr. Aladin El-Mafaalani was the guest speaker and focused on the "tension between 'true love' and turbo-capitalism" in his sermon.
Representatives of the Catholic and Protestant churches co-led the liturgy, with Pastor Friedrich Laker and Pastor Meinolf Wacker among the participants. A peace monument was erected and blessed by Pastor Meinolf Wacker at the end of the service.
Small groups were able to take a peek at the construction site in the Church of the Holy Trinity after the service. Upon completion of the renovation, the church will reopen as a cultural, spiritual, and social meeting place for BVB fans and those seeking community.
The renovation of the Church of the Holy Trinity is aimed at creating a unique space that connects football history, city history, and faith. The "BVB Founder Church" project will continue until the end of 2026, with a series of images documenting the event available at www.bvb-gruenderkirche.de.
After the service, sausages and beer were part of the festivities, adding to the convivial atmosphere. The BVB season-opener church service was indeed a memorable event, bridging the gap between sports and spirituality in a heartwarming and inclusive manner.
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