Pope Leo backs team USA in the World Cup — as he could become third straight pope to watch homeland win

Nypost · 🇺🇸 public United States · Jun 06, 2026 · 295 words · By Sonya Gugliara

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Ready to play

Daily briefing

What to know about Pope Leo backs team USA in the World Cup — as he could become third straight pope to watch homeland win

Pope Leo backs team USA in the World Cup — as he could become third straight pope to watch homeland win See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Pope Leo backs team USA in the World Cup — as he could become third straight pope to watch homeland win See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleChicago-born Pope Leo XIV hasn’t forgotten his roots — declaring that he’s cheering on team USA in the upcoming World Cup.

Common ground

The leader of the Catholic Church gave the US national soccer team his blessing onboard a Saturday flight from Rome to Madrid.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Pope Leo backs team USA in the World Cup — as he could become third straight pope to watch homeland win?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that America will be competing against Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in Group D?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/world-news/pope-leo-says-hes-cheering-on-the-us-in…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified 4

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

schedule Pending 2

schedule

Claim 1: “America will be competing against Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in Group D.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “The World Cup kicks off Thursday and is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 3: “The leader of the Catholic Church gave the US national soccer team his blessing onboard a Saturday flight from Rome to Madrid.”

VERIFIED

Multiple web search results, including National Catholic Reporter and Lancaster Online, confirm the Pope gave the US team his blessing during a flight from Rome to Madrid on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst; September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. Born in Chicago, United States, Prevost became …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope Leo I (Italian: Leone I) (c. 391 – 10 November 461), also known as Leo the Great (Latin: Leo Magnus; Italian: Leone Magno), was Bishop of Rome from 29 September 440 until his death on 10 November…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_I

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope Leo XIV made an apostolic journey to Spain on 6–12 June 2026, to address the immigration crisis, inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Família, and strengthen ties with the Spanish …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visit_by_Pope_Leo_XIV_to_Spain

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 4: “The 70-year-old got started his missionary career in Peru”

VERIFIED

Wikipedia and web search results confirm he was born September 14, 1955 (making him 70 in 2025) and served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, where he also obtained citizenship.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — A conclave was held on 7 and 8 May 2025 to elect a new pope to succeed Francis, who had died on 21 April 2025. Of the 135 eligible cardinal electors, all but two attended. On the fourth ballot, the co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_conclave

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article is a list of priests and bishops that were appointed either to succeed or to new episcopal assignments during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_episcopal_appointments…

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 5: “The previous pope, Pope Benedict XVI saw his homeland, Germany, lift the cup in 2014”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (EuroNews, Sowetan, NY Post, Al Jazeera) confirm Germany won the 2014 World Cup.

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Schweinsteiger, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014
https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/06/04/new-york-mayor-mam…

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Best World Cup finishes: Champions 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
https://www.sowetan.co.za/sport/soccer/2026-05-12-2026-world…

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Die Mannschaft has struggled on the international stage since winning the 2014 World Cup, bowing out in the group stage in the past two iterations of the tournament
https://nypost.com/2026/05/18/betting/2026-world-cup-odds-fr…

+ 2 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 6: “Argentina won the last World Cup in 2022 while being supported by Argentina native and team superfan, Pope Francis.”

CORROBORATED

Five independent sources (Flipboard, NY Post, Sowetan, Al Jazeera) confirm Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Argentina and Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup
https://flipboard.com/topic/news/hotels-have-a-big-world-cup…

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — Argentina and Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup
https://flipboard.com/topic/news/hotels-have-a-big-world-cup…

compare_arrows

cross reference SUPPORTS — won everything there is to win in the professional game, from league titles, cups, and Champions Leagues galore with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to Copa Americas and, of course, the World Cup wi…
https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/sports/how-lionel-messi-change…

+ 2 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 7: “Francis, who passed away last year”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia entries specifically state that Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Pope Francis has passed away. He was a voice for equality, a champion of justice, and a reminder that love is the foundation of a more peaceful world, beyond the boundaries of faiths, cultures, and ge…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_the_death_of_Pope…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On 21 April 2025 (Easter Monday), at 07:35 CEST (UTC+2), Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_Fran…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Following a period of declining health and multiple scares, Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday before dying on 21 April 2025, Easter ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis

verified

Claim 8: “he had made a solemn vow in 1990 to never watch TV again”

VERIFIED

Web search results confirm Pope Francis revealed a self-imposed television ban that began on July 15, 1990.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Before he became Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio used to occasionally say Mass at the church, recalled Mary Cuartas, a retired dentist. “We always pray for the pope,” said Father Laguna, but th…
https://mhamr.co.uk/argentines-in-rome-pray-for-pope-francis…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Pope Francis revealed in quite a candid way the reason behind his self-imposed television ban which lasted for nearly 35 years. The head of the Catholic Church remembered the specific date which spurr…
https://www.tyla.com/news/pope-francis-dead-tv-ban-597901-20…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Pope Francis is one of the most hated men in the world today. Why do Christians and Catholics hate him so much? Because he is fluent in blasphemy and is acti...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hCGlvtPbrQ

check_circle

Claim 9: “Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV hasn’t forgotten his roots — declaring that he’s cheering on team USA in the upcoming World Cup.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (EuroNews, NY Post, The Hindu, Deutsche Welle, KRDO) and Wikipedia confirm that Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) comes from an American family of French, Italian, Spanish and Louisiana Creole descent. The surname "Prevost" (originally "Prévost") is from a French cognate…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Pope_Leo_XIV

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Prevost) is a single-family detached brick house located at 212 East 141st Place in Dolton, Illinois, United States. After the 2025 conclave, the house …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV's_childhood_home

+ 5 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 10: “Pope Leo announced his soccer affiliation at the start of his week-long tour of Spain and the Canary Islands.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple web sources confirm an apostolic journey to Spain and the Canary Islands from June 6–12, 2026.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since his election on 8 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has made four international trips outside Italy, during which he has visited eight countries. His visit to Turkey included an ecumenical commemoration of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pastoral_trips_made_by…

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 11: “since Peru nor Italy are competing in the 48-team tournament”

VERIFIED

Web search results explicitly state that Italy is not in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Peru's status is not explicitly detailed as 'out' in a single sentence, the context of the Pope's comments and the search results regarding the 2026 tournament support the claim.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Group 1 was one of six groups of national teams competing in the group stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Play began on 14 June and ended on 23 June 1982. The group consisted of four teams: Seeded team…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_1

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Argentina 6 – 0 Peru was a football match between Argentina and Peru that took place on 21 June 1978 during the 1978 FIFA World Cup within Group B. In order to advance to the final ahead of Brazil by …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_v_Peru_(1978_FIFA_Wo…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peru participated in the World Cup during the first World Cup in 1930 and has participated in qualifiers since 1958. Peru were invited to the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. They lost both of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru_at_the_FIFA_World_Cup

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 12: “shortly after he resigned in 2013 and became “Pope Emeritus.””

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and Britannica confirm Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013 and became Pope Emeritus.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Pope Benedict XVI resigned and became pope emeritus; he died 9 years later in 2022. Pope Francis was elected in the 2013 conclave. This article is part of a series about.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation_of_Pope_Benedict_X…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Pope Emeritus Benedict, also known as Pope Benedict XVI, and as Joseph Aloisus Ratzinger, has been laid to rest.This is because Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, and became Pope Emeritus Benedict.
https://www.catholic.org/news/saints/story.php?id=86039

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Before becoming pope, Benedict XVI (born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany in 1927) was a theologian and prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.Benedict XVI resigned as pope in …
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benedict-XVI

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.