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Pope Leo XIV has thrown his enactment down the United States up of the FIFA World Cup 2026, offering a boost to the cohost federation arsenic the tourney prepares to get underway connected June 11.
The pontiff, who became the archetypal American person of the Catholic Church, said helium would beryllium cheering for the U.S. nationalist squad during the competition, contempt his engaged schedule.
Speaking to a writer aboard a formation from Rome to Madrid connected Saturday (June 6, 2026), Pope Leo said, “I would surely enactment the U.S. I don’t cognize however galore games I’ll beryllium capable to see, but I privation them each the best,” reported Reuters.
The United States volition big the tourney alongside Canada and Mexico and statesman their run successful Group D, wherever they are acceptable to look Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye. Born successful the Chicago suburbs arsenic Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV besides holds Peruvian citizenship aft spending decades serving arsenic a missionary and bishop successful Peru earlier his predetermination arsenic the Pope.
His ties to some nations person antecedently made his shot loyalties a taxable of interest. Last year, Pope Leo indicated that helium would enactment Peru implicit the United States if the 2 countries met connected the shot pitch. However, Peru failed to suffice for this year’s World Cup, leaving the U.S. arsenic the beneficiary of the Pope’s backing.
During the flight, the Pope was besides asked astir his penchant betwixt Spanish shot giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Maintaining neutrality successful his existent role, helium initially replied, “The Pope is for each teams.” However, erstwhile referring to his pre-papal identity, helium added with a smile, “Prevost is for Real Madrid.”
Pope Leo is presently connected a week-long sojourn to Spain and the Canary Islands arsenic preparations proceed for the commencement of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.
