Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo has responded to criticism surrounding his prediction for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that his comments before the tournament were never intended to be understood as a prophecy.
The House of Prayer Ministries leader came under scrutiny after Spain lifted the World Cup trophy instead of France, Portugal, Argentina or Brazil—the four teams he had identified before the competition as the most likely champions.
Addressing the backlash, Bujjingo maintained that he was simply sharing his opinion as a passionate football supporter and not speaking from divine revelation.
“It Was My Opinion, Not a Prophecy”
Speaking about the criticism, Bujjingo said some people had wrongly interpreted his football views as a prophetic declaration.
According to him, there was never a point where he claimed God had revealed the tournament’s outcome to him.
“It wasn’t a prophecy because I never claimed it was one. It was simply my personal opinion as a football fan.”
He explained that his interest in football extends far beyond casual support, saying he enjoys following the sport and evaluating teams based on their performances.
Bujjingo also referenced his past interactions within football circles to underline his enthusiasm for the game.
“In fact, I have previously shared the same space with FIFA President Gianni Infantino because of my love for sports.”
For the pastor, his World Cup predictions were no different from those made by millions of football fans before every major tournament.
Why He Chose Portugal Over Argentina
Bujjingo also addressed suggestions that his choices were influenced by the long-running debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
He dismissed that idea, saying his support shifts depending on which team is playing the best football.
“Messi isn’t the Messiah. In football, I support whoever has something to offer, which is why I chose Portugal over Argentina. I don’t support Ronaldo or Messi; I’m a football fan, and I support whoever plays well.”
His remarks suggest that his selections were based on footballing preferences rather than loyalty to individual players.
Responding to Critics
Despite Spain ultimately winning the tournament, Bujjingo argued that the criticism directed at him was misplaced.
He pointed out that one of the teams he tipped before the tournament still reached the World Cup final, saying this showed his assessment was not entirely off the mark.
He did not identify which of his predicted teams he was referring to during the comments provided.
For Bujjingo, the fact that one of his selections advanced to the final demonstrated that his football analysis remained credible despite not correctly naming the eventual champions.
His View on Argentina’s Defeat
Bujjingo also shared his personal opinion on why Argentina failed to retain the World Cup.
According to him, too much attention had been placed on Lionel Messi instead of the team as a whole.
“What made them lose is wanting to share God’s authority with a person (Messi). They shifted the attention from Argentina to Messi and God showed them who’s the one in charge and even stopped the supply of the ball from reaching Messi.”
These remarks reflect Bujjingo’s personal opinion about Argentina’s defeat.
Why the Debate Continues
Public figures often attract attention when they make predictions about major sporting events, particularly when those comments are later compared with the final outcome.
In Bujjingo’s case, the discussion has centered less on football itself and more on whether his earlier remarks should have been interpreted as prophecy.
His latest clarification draws a distinction between expressing a sporting opinion and making a religious prediction, arguing that the two should not be confused.
Human Angle
For many football fans, predicting a World Cup winner is part of the excitement surrounding the tournament.
Bujjingo says he was doing exactly that—sharing his personal assessment as someone who enjoys the sport.
While Spain ultimately emerged as champions, the pastor maintains that his comments were never intended to carry prophetic weight, but rather reflected the same kind of football debate that takes place among fans around the world.