Why Catholics Should Support England in the World Cup!

OK, my full disclosure! I've been a Three Lions fan since my teen years. My Mum and Gran were English women, and England is a monarchy.

From Aleteia

By Cerith Gardiner

With England one match away from the World Cup final, here's a rather lovely reason Catholics might want to cheer on the Three Lions.

Ishould probably begin with a tiny declaration of interest. I grew up in England, which means I've had years of practice in the particular blend of hope, heartache, and blind optimism required to support its national soccer team. So, when the Three Lions face Argentina in tomorrow's World Cup semifinal, I will inevitably be yelling at the television and willing them towards the final.

But that is absolutely not why I think you should support them, too. Honestly!

You see, behind the goals, the drama, and the increasingly alarming effect England games have on my blood pressure lies a rather wonderful tradition that many soccer fans outside the country may not know about. England's players donate their international match fees to charity. All of them. And they have been doing this since 2007.

When I first discovered this, I was delighted. Here was my completely selfless reason for recruiting new England fans: every win meant another match, another appearance fee, and more money for charity. Perfect! Except, annoyingly, the losing semifinalists also play in the third-place playoff, so England are guaranteed another game whatever happens tomorrow. Great news for the charities. A little inconvenient for my argument.

A tradition started by England greats

Nearly two decades ago, a group of senior England players formed a committee that established the England Footballers Foundation. Among them were some of the biggest names in English soccer: the newly knighted Sir David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, John Terry, David James, and Michael Owen.

The idea was wonderfully simple. These were professional players earning substantial salaries through their clubs, and they decided the money they received for playing for England could do more good elsewhere.

Since then, generations of England players have continued the tradition, donating their international match fees through the foundation. By 2018, more than £5 million had already been raised, supporting charities including UNICEF, WellChild, Together for Short Lives, Help for Heroes, and the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.

What I particularly love is the continuity of it all. New players arrive, famous names retire, managers come and go, and England fans endure the usual cycle of hope, anguish, and an extraordinary ability to believe that this time really might be different. Yet the tradition continues.

And for Catholics, this kind of generosity feels especially worth celebrating. Giving is not simply about parting with money; it is a way of recognizing that what we have can be placed at the service of others. England’s players have quietly turned the honor of representing their country into an opportunity to do exactly that.

Generosity beyond England

England's players are certainly not alone in using soccer to help others, and the World Cup has given us some wonderful examples of generosity over the years.

France star Kylian Mbappé famously donated his match fees and 2018 World Cup earnings to Premiers de Cordée, an organization that brings sports to hospitalized children and young people with disabilities. Players across the soccer world have also created foundations, funded community projects, and supported causes close to their hearts.

But England's tradition feels particularly special because it isn't dependent on one exceptionally generous superstar. It has become a collective habit, passed from one generation of the national team to the next for almost 20 years.

And, as a mom, I love the idea of sporting heroes who inspire millions of young people to think of others in need.

So, about tomorrow...

England now faces Argentina in a World Cup semifinal carrying all the usual weight of history, expectation, and the hopes of millions of fans who would very much like to see the country lift its first men's World Cup trophy since 1966. The match in Atlanta will also pit England against Lionel Messi's defending champions, so nobody could accuse them of choosing the easy route to the final.

Having grown up with three brothers, I never had much choice about being invested in soccer, but this tournament has taken things to another level. Every time thousands of England fans burst into “Hey Jude” or “Wonderwall,” I'm joining in at the top of my voice. In fact, that's a reminder to buy a few vats of honey in preparation for tomorrow because my voice needs to be ready. England may need me.

And yet, beneath all the noise, nerves, and singing, there is another reason to cheer them on. When Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and their teammates step onto the field tomorrow, they will be continuing a charitable tradition that has quietly accompanied England internationals for years. Every appearance has meant more than another cap, another anthem, or another chance at glory, because the players collectively decided that the money attached to representing their country could be put to work elsewhere.

So if you're an American wondering who to support now that the USMNT has left the tournament, may I humbly suggest England?

Cheer for the charitable tradition. Cheer for the causes that have benefited. Cheer for a group of players continuing something begun by David Beckham and his teammates nearly two decades ago.

And yes, I know England will play another match regardless of tomorrow's result. But surely a World Cup final appearance would be better for morale. The charities' morale, obviously!