To provide: a catalyst for solid polymer fuel cells, which has excellent initial activity and good durability; and a method for producing the catalyst for solid polymer fuel cells. The present invention is a catalyst for solid polymer fuel cells, which is obtained by having a carbon powder carrier support catalyst particles that are formed of platinum, cobalt and manganese. This catalyst for solid polymer fuel cells is characterized in that: the catalyst particles have a constituent ratio (molar ratio) among platinum, cobalt and manganese, namely Pt:Co:Mn of 1:0.06-0.39:0.04-0.33; the intensity ratio of a peak assigned to a Co-Mn alloy observed near 2Theta = 27 degrees relative to the main peak observed near 2Theta = 40 degrees is 0.15 or less in the X-ray diffraction analysis on the catalyst particles; and at least the surfaces of the catalyst particles support a fluorine compound that has a C-F bond. The amount of fluorine compound supported is preferably 3-20% based on the total mass of the catalyst.