Pope Leo XIV Jokes About Real Madrid Loyalty and Backs US in World Cup

Pope Leo XIV displayed a deft touch with football on Saturday, navigating the tribalism of the sport with a diplomat’s finesse during the papal flight to Madrid. In an informal exchange with journalists, the pontiff — born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago — was asked the inevitable question: Real Madrid or Barcelona? “That’s easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid,” he replied, sparking laughter. Within hours, the quip had ricocheted across global media, a moment of levity that prefaced a week-long visit to Spain that will include a massive gathering at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Viewed from Madrid, the remark was a coup for the Spanish giants, whose official social media promptly posted a video with the message: “The Pope is for Real Madrid. Welcome, León XIV!” The club had already congratulated Prevost upon his election in May 2025, noting that his pontificate would contribute to peace and fraternity. Italian and French observers, however, saw a more archetypal papal balancing act: Le Figaro’s headline stressed that the Pope “did not choose” between the rivals, while AGI noted the pontiff had shown “rather clear ideas” for a fan. The episode underlined the perennial tension between the Pope’s universal pastoral role and the personal allegiances of the man who occupies it.

Across the Atlantic, American correspondents seized on a separate revelation: Leo confirmed he will “certainly support the U.S.” in the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off next week across North America. “I don’t know how many games I’ll be able to see, but I’ll try my best,” he added, acknowledging his dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship and the fact that Italy will not compete. Broadcasts in Latin America highlighted the pope’s symbolic gesture of accepting a Mexican national team jersey from journalist Valentina Alazraki, using the moment to call for unity through sport. The image of the first American pope holding a Mexico shirt resonated deeply in a region where football and faith are tightly entwined.

The dual declarations offer a glimpse of how this papacy may engage global culture. Unlike his predecessors, Leo XIV arrives at a moment when the World Cup will unfold in his native country, and when questions of national loyalty intersect with a role that demands transcendence. Analysts note that his choice to celebrate mass at the Bernabéu, a temple of global football, is itself a powerful symbolic statement. As the tournament begins, the image of a Chicago-born pontiff cheering the United States while gently ribbing Spanish club loyalties may prove an unlikely bridge between the sacred and the secular.