Catholic Diocese of Dallas welcomes World Cup visitors with prayers in different languages

The late Pope Francis, a lifelong soccer fan, said the beauty of a team sport is playing together. 

In a similar spirit, the Catholic Diocese of Dallas is hosting several special services throughout the World Cup. As part of its “Welcome the World, Welcome the Stranger” initiative, the diocese has created an online landing page (https://dallascatholic.org/fwc26/#Welcome) with resources for visitors, including a tool to search for parishes and Mass times in different languages across North Texas. 

Bishop Edward Burns of the Dallas Diocese said that knowing that a number of World Cup visitors are Catholic, it was important for the church to offer hospitality. 

“We celebrate the fact that soccer is such a universal sport,” Burns said. “There’s a lot of passion behind soccer and it’s exciting to see.” 

Several special Masses and prayers will be held in downtown Dallas in different languages to honor visiting countries. 

The slogan of the diocese’s World Cup initiative comes straight from the Gospel, Burns said, when Jesus said, “For I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” The diocese is offering international visitors “pilgrim packets” with mementos of their trip to Dallas, including rosaries, wrist bands and prayer cards. 

“Sports definitely brings people together,” Burns said. “We are one family, and we celebrate a common humanity.” 

Ahead of the start of the World Cup on June 11, Pope Leo XIV said his prayer intention for the month of June is “the value of sports.” 

“In times of war and extreme polarization, sport is one of the few things that brings us closer together,” he said in a social media video Tuesday. 

Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, known as Dallas Stadium for the tournament, will host nine matches for the World Cup. 

Related: Soccer-inspired art, events and experiences across North Texas

Burns will celebrate Mass at 7 p.m., on Sunday, June 7, at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. At 6:45 p.m., the cathedral will play the U.S. national anthem on its bells. A procession of flags representing the teams playing matches in North Texas will open the Mass. 

Sunday evening Mass will be in Spanish at the cathedral. 

A closing Mass is planned on July 20 to mark the end of the tournament in North Texas. 

The cathedral is located at 2215 Ross Ave, Dallas. 

Related: Here’s a look at the full schedule of matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The diocese plans to host three adoration nights at the cathedral the day before international matches are played in North Texas. Adoration is the practice of praying before the Eucharist, which Catholics believe is the presence of Christ. The diocese noted that all are welcome to attend. 

The national anthems of the visiting countries will be played on the cathedral’s bells before Mass. Following Mass, adoration prayers will be in the language of each country. 

• Netherlands and Japan: June 13 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
• England and Croatia: June 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
• Argentina and Austria: June 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.