Just four days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico called on Mexican Catholics to enjoy the championship but at the same time to “not lose sight of what is really important, which is what remains after the final whistle.”
In a June 7 editorial, the archdiocese stressed that “the emotions of these days will remain in our memories but our children will still be there waiting for our attention, our parents needing a call, our grandparents longing for a visit, our spouse waiting for some time together, and our daily responsibilities demanding our presence.”
The Archdiocese of Mexico stated that “the world once again comes to a halt before the playing field. Millions of people will gather in front of a screen to celebrate, suffer disappointment, feel the excitement, and share the passion that soccer brings out.”
“Mexico, like many other participating nations, is undergoing challenges that call for unity; the entire world, caught up in scenarios of war and inequality, is in urgent need of reconciliation,” the editorial noted.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the worldʼs premier soccer championship, will have three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The opening match, between Mexico and South Africa, will take place on June 11 in Mexico City. Thirteen matches total will be played in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
After acknowledging the frequent divisions caused by “politics, social media, economic disparities, or the wounds we carry in our personal and community relationships,” the archdiocese noted that during the World Cup weeks, “we will see entire families sitting together in front of the television, neighbors gathering to watch a match, and people who don’t usually agree on things celebrating the same goal.”
The archdiocese recalled that Pope Leo XIV, in his prayer intention for June, “reminds us that ‘in life, as in the game, no one is saved alone. We need others to grow, to learn respect, to overcome our limits, and to celebrate together the victories we achieve.'"
The archdiocese acknowledged that “the World Cup can be a great celebration” yet noted that “any celebration has meaning when it strengthens the bonds that sustain our lives.”
In this spirit, it extended an invitation to Mexican society, urging that “these weeks help us sit down together at the table as a family more often, reconcile with those from whom we have drifted apart, pick up conversations we had put on hold, and rediscover the joy of sharing.”
“Sport need not be a reason to distance ourselves from those we love, to isolate ourselves, or to shut ourselves away for hours in front of the television, shunning human contact or neglecting what requires our attention,” the editorial pointed out.
Both while the World Cup is underway as well as after it ends, “the people who are with us on the journey today remain essential.”
“We still need peace in our communities. We still need to be close to those who suffer. We still need to value and defend human life and dignity. We still urgently need reconciliation in our country. And the love we build each day in our homes remains irreplaceable,” the archdiocese emphasized.
The archdiocese encouraged people to both enjoy the soccer matches and celebrate “the fraternity it can inspire,” without forgetting “that trophies are fleeting and that the most valuable things in our lives are built day by day in family, friendship, honest work, and everyone’s commitment to building a more united society.”
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.
