U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the G20 foreign ministers’ gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 31, engaging in a range of multilateral and bilateral diplomatic engagements. Notably, following the conclusion of the meeting, he garnered widespread attention by escorting multiple G20 foreign ministers to a college football showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. A devoted football enthusiast who once described his dream weekend as “watching football nonstop for 12 hours,” Rubio shares a personal bond with the Gators, as his son Anthony plays as a running back for the University of Florida team—where Rubio himself earned his degree.
Rubio recently shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) depicting himself alongside various G20 foreign ministers enjoying the college football match, captioning it: “I was thrilled to introduce my fellow foreign ministers to American football—the heart and soul of U.S. sports,” and adding, “Welcome to the ‘Gator Nation’ to those who joined us.” The image featured Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi, Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Yamada Shigeo, among others, all watching the game with Rubio. It was also reported that Allison Hooker, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs responsible for U.S.-ROK relations, traveled with Rubio.
As the son of Cuban immigrants and a graduate of the University of Florida, Rubio’s passion for football is deeply rooted. He once voiced concern during a White House Cabinet meeting about weddings scheduled during the college football season, when games are held every Saturday, calling the practice “truly problematic.” His allegiance to the Gators is openly displayed. In September, ahead of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, he took part in the New York Stock Exchange opening bell ceremony. Just before ringing the bell, he performed the iconic “Gator Chomp”—extending both arms and clapping hands like an alligator’s jaws—on camera, drawing global attention. This spontaneous gesture celebrated the Gators’ thrilling road win over arch-rival Auburn from the previous weekend.
Rubio’s son Anthony has been serving as a running back for the Gators since 2023. In January this year, Rubio accompanied U.S. President Donald Trump to Miami to watch a Gators game and even stepped onto the field with Anthony for a joint media interview. When asked about the experience of seeing his son play, Rubio said, “I’ve always believed football matters when it shapes life. If you learn to show up on time and fulfill your role, that’s sufficient. That’s 90% of life—and that’s what football teaches.” He continued, “As a lifelong Florida football fan, it means everything to see my son involved. It will serve him well in the years ahead.”
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