06/11/2026
Six Reasons to Watch the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to North America—the first time in history that the tournament will be hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With 48 teams competing in 104 matches, it promises to be historic. Here are six reasons why Catholics should tune in:
1. The Popes Knew Something We Didn't
Both Pope Leo and the late Pope Francis recognized soccer's unique power to unite humanity and build community. Pope Francis, a lifelong supporter of Argentina's San Lorenzo club, frequently spoke about sport's ability to teach important human virtues. If the successors of St. Peter saw value in the beautiful game, perhaps there's wisdom in joining them. The World Cup reminds us that joy and recreation are gifts from God meant to be celebrated.
2. It's a Global Celebration of Human Connection
For a few weeks, billions of people across every continent gather around screens, filling homes, cafés, and public squares with collective passion. This is one of the few moments when humanity genuinely unites around something larger than ourselves. Catholics understand the power of gathering in community—the World Cup offers a modern expression of that same human longing for connection and belonging.
3. It's a Masterclass in Virtue
Watching the World Cup teaches us about hope, perseverance, and trust in providence. Teams spend four years preparing, fans invest their emotions in outcomes they cannot control, and every match requires surrender to something beyond ourselves. When a penalty shootout arrives and analysis becomes useless, what remains is prayer and trust—spiritual disciplines we practice in our faith life every day.
4. You'll Witness Faith in Action
The World Cup stage amplifies what happens in soccer regularly: players openly expressing their faith. You'll see athletes making the Sign of the Cross before matches, pointing heavenward after goals, and speaking boldly about God in interviews. In a secular world, the World Cup provides a powerful reminder that faith and excellence can coexist beautifully.
5. It Celebrates the Goodness of the Body
The athleticism on display is extraordinary—players run the equivalent of a half-marathon over 90 minutes, sprint at speeds approaching 22 mph, and control a moving ball with breathtaking precision. Watching elite athletes push their bodies to their limits is a form of witnessing God's creation in action. The human body, trained and disciplined, becomes an instrument of beauty.
6. It Invites You Into Something Bigger Than Yourself
Perhaps most importantly, the World Cup invites us to be part of a global family. When you pull on your country's colors and celebrate with millions of strangers, you experience what it means to belong to something transcendent. This is the same longing that draws us to faith—the desire to be part of a community united by something deeper than ourselves.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19. Whether you tune in for the faith stories, the astonishing athleticism, or simply to discover what billions of people find so compelling, now is the perfect time to give the beautiful game a chance.
