Pope's World Cup Choice
First American Pontiff Pope Leo XIV Backs Team USA for Expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup
Anonymous
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, said he will support the United States at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup as the tournament approaches its start. Speaking on a flight from Rome to Madrid, he said he will cheer for Team USA even though he is unsure how many matches he will be able to watch. The U.S., co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, opens Group D against Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye. Leo previously indicated he would back Peru over the U.S. if they met, but Peru’s failure to qualify for this tournament left the U.S. as his chosen side. During the same trip, he maintained that the pope is “for all teams,” while also revealing a personal preference by joking that “Prevost is for Real Madrid” rather than Barcelona.
Key Points
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The pope’s remarks came as the tournament was set to begin on **June 11**, with the U.S. positioned as one of the co-host nations.
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Coverage of the pope’s comment was based on a Reuters report, with Leo saying aboard the flight that he would support the U.S. but “**I don’t know how many games I’ll be able to see**,” citing the constraints of his schedule.
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Article reporting adds that the 2026 World Cup is the **48-team** edition, and the pope’s trip coincides with preparations for the expanded tournament.
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Beyond his American roots, the pope is described as holding **Peruvian citizenship** after decades serving as a **missionary and bishop in Peru**, keeping both countries central to his World Cup identity.
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One outlet also framed Leo’s World Cup hopes in a broader papal pattern: it notes that Pope Francis (Argentina) saw Argentina win in **2022**, and Benedict XVI (Germany) saw Germany win in **2014**—making a third consecutive home-nation win seem unlikely without “divine intervention.”
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