The time has arrived for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From June 11 through July 19, matches will be played in North American cities, including Vancouver. As in past World Cups, I like to view the tournament from a Catholic perspective: which countries have strong Catholic roots, and what stories of faith emerge from the players?
There have been 22 World Cups since 1930, but only eight nations have won the championship. Of these, five are majority Catholic: Brazil (five titles), Italy (four), Argentina (three), France (two), and Spain. The only minority-Catholic winners are Germany (four), Uruguay (two), and England. All except Italy are competing this year.
At the end of each World Cup, several awards are presented, including the Golden Ball for the tournament’s top player. The last three have gone to Catholics—Lionel Messi twice and Luka Modrić. Nine of the past 11 winners have come from Catholic countries.
Several Popes have pointed to the World Cup as a sign of unity and fraternity—values central to the Church’s mission. In 1990, St. John Paul II said the tournament should reflect “sportsmanship, fair play, respect and friendship … a great display of human values.”
Two years later, the future Pope Benedict XVI called the World Cup “a global event that links humanity … in hopes, fears, emotions and joys.”
Pope Francis described it as an occasion for “encounter and harmony among nations.”
When asked who he supports, Pope Leo XIV said, “As Pope I am a fan of all the teams … the wealth of traditions, cultures and languages that make up the world and, of course, the Church.” In that sense, he is father to Catholics on every team.
The Vatican has even drawn inspiration from the tournament. The Clericus Cup, an annual soccer competition for seminarians studying in Rome, now features 16 teams and a high level of play.
This year, 48 countries will compete in 12 groups. Fifteen have majority-Catholic populations, including Croatia, Portugal, Mexico, Cape Verde, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Panama, Argentina, France, Haiti, and Brazil.
Among the many Catholic athletes, several stand out: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Christian Pulisic (U.S.), and Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić.
Messi, one of the greatest players of all time, lives his faith openly. After leading Argentina to victory in 2022, he fulfilled a promise to visit the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás. “I knew that God was going to grant this wish to me,” he said. He also mourned Pope Francis, saying, “Thank you for making the world a better place.” Messi, who drew huge crowds during his visit to Vancouver with Inter Miami last year, has a crown-of-thorns tattoo and often points to God after scoring.
Modrić has said his Catholic faith sustained him through poverty and hardship and has shaped his humility and leadership. He and his wife practise their faith daily; their daughter is baptized, and their son has received first Holy Communion. His shin guards bear images of Jesus and Mary, he visits Marian shrines, and he carries a rosary. “Everything I have done … I owe to my Catholic faith,” he has said.
Pulisic, known as “Captain America,” also speaks openly about his faith. He has Bible verse tattoos and references his relationship with Jesus in interviews. “When I pray, I don’t ask God to fix the problem,” he said. “I ask him to help me see it from his perspective.”
Coach Zlatko Dalić likewise keeps a rosary with him on the pitch and credits God in his life and career. Before this tournament, he made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, entrusting his team to the Blessed Virgin Mary. “The dear Lord supports me through the hardest moments,” he said.
As you watch this year’s World Cup and cheer for your favourite team based on skill, success, or nationality, keep an eye as well on the quiet witness of faith among the players.
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