God on the soccer field: Expressions of faith at the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been more than just a celebration of soccer. Amid the excitement, players, coaches, and fans have made it clear that, for many of them, faith is also part of the game.

Mexico, the United States, and Canada are hosting the tournament, which kicked off on June 11 and for the first time in history has brought together 48 national teams for a total of 104 matches.

The Virgin of Luján and the Argentinian national team

Argentina, the tournamentʼs defending champion, seeks to repeat the feat achieved at Qatar in 2022 under the protection of the Virgin of Luján. During that World Cup, a video shared by goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez revealed an image of the patroness of Argentina in the locker room at the white-and-blue-uniformed teamʼs training camp.

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Furthermore, the athletic shoes worn by Lionel Messi, captain and superstar of the Argentinian national team, were blessed at Our Lady of Luján Basilica by Father Lucas García, the shrine’s rector.

In a video shared on social media, the priest is seen sprinkling holy water on the footwear while praying that the World Cup becomes a time of unity for all Argentinians.

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Croatia and its faith

Croatia, one of the standout teams in recent World Cups, has also consistently borne witness to its faith.

Before the World Cup, the players and coaching staff left their training session to attend Mass on the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

Another significant moment occurred before the team’s first match against England, when EWTN News asked players Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith are important to them.

“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, you feel that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.

Jakić added: “We are a Catholic country where faith is the pathway of our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith is everything in our lives.”

St. Michael the Archangel and Scotland

Scotland returned to the World Cup this year after a 28-year absence, featuring a generation of established stars alongside the talent of young prospects such as 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak, a forward for Bournemouth in the English Premier League.

In an interview with the BBC, the player spoke about the central role the Catholic faith plays in his life. He carries a medal of St. Michael the Archangel and prays and reads the Bible before every match.

Following Scotlandʼs victory over Haiti in its World Cup debut, cameras captured Doak kneeling on the playing field as he thanked God in prayer.

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Mexico at the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe

At Mexico City Stadium, the site for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, there is a small, restricted-access Catholic chapel that players and coaching staff pass through before taking the field.

It’s a simple space featuring just two kneelers and an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, accompanied by a plaque noting that the image was blessed by St. John Paul II in 1999 during his fourth visit to Mexico.

A video released during the tournament showed head coach Javier Aguirre and some members of “El Tri” — as the Mexican national team is known — pausing briefly to pray before their match against the Czech Republic on June 24, which they won 3-0.

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Faith also finds expression at the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where fans can entrust the Mexican National Team before an image of the child Jesus dressed in the teamʼs official uniform, a tradition that seeks not to ask for sporting victories but to place their joys in the hands of Christ.

Just steps from the cathedral in Mexico City’s Constitution Square, a Fan Fest has been set up where fans gather to watch the games. There, one can find two nuns from the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament walking through the square, offering “free hugs” to the fans.

USA

On June 12, the United States got off to a strong start in the World Cup by defeating Paraguay 4-1. After the match, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.

Leading up to the tournament, several U.S. players spoke openly about their faith. Standout winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has spoken about the important role that reading Scripture plays in his daily life.

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This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/americas/god-on-the-soccer-field-expressions-of-faith-at-the-world-cup