Spain’s Catholic coach prays every day in thanksgiving, not for World Cup victories

(LifeSiteNews) — Luis de la Fuente, the religious Catholic head coach of Spain’s nationwide soccer membership, mentioned towards the tip of a press convention on Monday, a day earlier than defeating France to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup ultimate, that he prays every day in thanksgiving and for God’s assist however not for victory over his opponents.

At as July 13 press conference, a reporter talked about the coach’s religion and requested him about what he may be praying for forward of the semifinal match towards France. De la Fuente emphasised that he prays day by day, not for assist in defeating World Cup opponents however in thanksgiving that he has one other day to take pleasure in life, for continued good well being, and for intentions unrelated to soccer.

“I pray day by day, however not as a result of I’m at a World Cup or as a result of I’m attempting to get a sure consequence,” the coach mentioned. “I thank Him day by day, day by day once I get up, that I’m properly. (That I can) have a look at myself and say, ‘One other day I can take pleasure in life.’ I’m grateful for these little issues.

“And I pray day by day – to not ask for extra assist … it will be unfair to ask Him to assist me and never assist my opponent,” he added. “I ask for different issues – particularly good well being – and no matter else offers me the possibility to maintain combating.”

READ: Viral video reveals No. 1 tennis participant Carlos Alcaraz getting blessed by Catholic monks

Spain shut out France 2-0 on Tuesday to advance to the World Cup ultimate towards Argentina on Sunday, July 19. The Spanish nationwide staff below De la Fuente beforehand won the 2024 UEFA Euro championship.

De la Fuente has brazenly professed his Catholic religion on quite a few events. In 2024, whereas competing within the Euro event, the coach said that his resolution to make the Signal of the Cross earlier than every sport “isn’t superstition, it’s religion.”

Throughout a 2023 interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, De la Fuente delved even additional into his religion, stating that there are “a thousand causes to imagine in God” and with out Him “nothing in life has which means.”

A number of distinguished athletes throughout a number of sports activities have publicly professed their Catholic religion. In American faculty soccer, former Indiana College quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a religious Catholic, led the Hoosiers to their first nationwide championship in January. He gave glory to God in almost all of his interviews, together with after profitable the nationwide championship.

READ: Catholic quarterback Fernando Mendoza offers glory to God after profitable nationwide championship

“This season is the season I’ve gotten the closest, probably the most non secular I’ve ever been, and I feel it’s additionally mirrored within the success, not simply the success but in addition the platform to reward God and to reward Jesus Christ,” Mendoza said in a pregame interview earlier than the championship sport.

The star quarterback, who was chosen first general by the Las Vegas Raiders within the 2026 NFL Draft, has additionally credited his athletic success to the Catholic monks at Indiana College who “have carried out a lot to assist me whether or not it’s confession, or simply with the ability to speak, or Mass each Sunday.”

“I actually give quite a bit that I’ve completed this season in my life to the Lord. I actually give because of God,” Mendoza added.