Every evening a crowd gathers inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, not to admire its baroque façade but to kneel before a small figurine of the infant Jesus swaddled in the green and white of the Mexican national team.
The practice, now half a century old, began in the modest parish of San Miguel Arcángel, where parishioners first dressed the statue in a soccer jersey as a playful offering for the country's hopes on the world stage.
This year, the so‑called 'Soccer baby Jesus' has found a prominent place in the cathedral's main nave, remaining on display for the entire duration of the FIFA World Cup and drawing pilgrims from across the globe.
When a new priest imposed a temporary prohibition, the faithful protested, and the cathedral's authorities eventually relented, reinstating the tradition amid a wave of public demand.
For some, the sight is a source of comfort; Eleazar Martinez, a longtime devotee, admits he finds the custom 'disrespectful and strange,' yet he still joins the line of supplicants.
A Sacred Goal
The juxtaposition of faith and football illustrates how deeply the World Cup has woven itself into the cultural fabric of Mexico, turning a religious icon into a symbol of national aspiration.