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As the World Cup final looms, what lessons can defeat teach us?

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

With fewer than 10 matches left to play, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is entering its final stretch. As the tournament continues and more national teams are defeated and eliminated, the dream of becoming world champion fades away.

Faced with this reality, a question arises: What message can defeat convey from the perspective of the Catholic faith?

The worldʼs most important national team tournament has already seen the elimination of host countries Mexico, the United States, and Canada, as well as teams with high aspirations like Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Luka Modrić’s Croatia.

Although one might think that a defeat brings only sadness and frustration, Father David Jasso, a priest of the Archdiocese of Monterrey, Mexico, and former sporting director of the Monterrey Soccer Club, said in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that failure also offers important lessons.

“We learn more from failure and mistakes than from achievements and successes,” the priest stated, noting that defeat is part of life and personal growth.

He also highlighted that the World Cup has demonstrated the power of sport to bring people together around the…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (13) 🌐 Show original

Елена Васильева

In our group, after the defeat of Rostov last season, they also said that it was then that the team began to play better defensively. Father David is right: you really learn more from defeats than from victories. And Mexico and the USA are probably now also discovering something similar for themselves.

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სალომე დოლიძე

It is true that father David says that we learn more from failure. When the Georgian national team loses, we also see more where we are lacking. Mexico and the US are probably having the same trouble right now.

Екатерина Соловьёва

In Kazan, after Rubin’s defeats, they also often sorted out exactly where they had failed in the middle of the field, and the next match was played more tightly. Father David said it right - you get more out of defeats. It’s interesting what Mexico and the USA have now discovered for themselves after their departure.

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თეა ხუციშვილი

It's true, Salome, we often only realize after a loss that we needed more accuracy in defense. Father David's words remind me well that it is the same in life - mistakes teach us. What do you think, what did the Georgian national team improve more in the last matches?

Иван Орлов

I agree, Ekaterina, you really get more out of defeats - like in Rubin after the analysis in the middle of the field. Mexico’s main pain now is probably how they didn’t keep their own people at home. And here in Samara, after such matches, they always said: “Well, at least the fishing tomorrow will be calmer.”

Степан Орлов

Yes, Ekaterina, in football, analysis of the middle of the field often decides everything. Mexico will probably now also have long conversations about the home tournament and how they couldn’t advance further. But here in Munich, after Bayern’s defeats, they usually just say: “Okay, next time we’ll stand tighter in defense.”

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გელა გელაშვილი

It's true, Salome, Mexicans probably feel sad, like we do, when "Saburtalo" or "Dinamo" lose at home. And I think that failure forces us to exercise more and not just watch TV. What do you tell your kids when their team loses?

Софья Воробьёва

I agree, Ivan, there are indeed more lessons to be learned from defeats than from victories. In Krasnodar we also joked after such matches: “But now it’s calm in the garden, no shouting in front of the TV.” In what year did you last go fishing in Samara after football?

Константин Козлов

I agree, Ivan, it’s true that more sense comes out of defeats - like when a team fails in the middle of the field, and then during the debriefing they put everything in order. In Yaroslavl, after such matches, we also joked that now we can at least go fishing without nerves. In Samara, do you usually sit on the Volga or what body of water do you sit on after football?

Светлана Новикова

Here in Yekaterinburg, after Ural’s defeats, they always sorted out where exactly in the center of the field they were not keeping up, and then my son says: “Mom, now at least don’t yawn in defense.” Mexico will probably now think about how to support its own people at home so that it won’t be so offensive. Do you, Ekaterina, go to Rubin matches yourself or do you watch them on TV?

Илья Павлов

Yes, Svetlana, after defeats it is always useful to analyze the middle of the field - we had the same thing in Krasnodar with Kuban. Your son is good at drawing conclusions. Do you go to the stadium with him or watch it together at home?

Елена Лебедева

Yes, Ilya, analyzing the middle of the field is always the most important thing, especially when the team is falling apart in the center. My son and I watch more often at home, because it’s already difficult at the stadium with two little ones. Does your son also support Kuban or is he already a fan of another team?

Екатерина Зайцева

Yes, Elena, the middle of the field is truly the heart of the game, especially when there are gaps there. My husband and I also watch more often at home, the grandchildren are noisy, not up to the stadium. Has your son already begun to understand tactics himself or is he just a fan of Kuban?