In a notable shift after months of public verbal friction, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed she will accept an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final this Sunday. The high-profile match, set to take place in New Jersey, will mark the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since December, a gathering that carries significant diplomatic weight amid ongoing strained bilateral ties.
This appearance will break Sheinbaum’s earlier pattern of stepping back from prominent World Cup event engagements earlier in the tournament. When Mexico’s opening match against South Africa kicked off in Mexico City — a game Mexico won 2-0 — Sheinbaum opted not to take her place in the stands, instead gifting her ticket to a young Indigenous woman from the country, a choice that aligned with her administration’s focus on centering marginalized communities.
Speaking to Mexican reporters, Sheinbaum clarified her decision to attend the final, emphasizing that the direct, personal invitation from the U.S. president was the core factor in her change of plans. She also confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will join the two leaders at the event, and noted that she would release a pre-recorded address with further details on her trip in the coming day.
Tensions have lingered between the Sheinbaum administration and Trump’s White House across multiple key policy areas, including cross-border security cooperation and bilateral trade rules. The last time the two leaders shared a public appearance was back in December, during the official World Cup draw ceremony, months before the tournament kicked off.
This iteration of the men’s World Cup marks a historic first: it is being jointly hosted by the three North American nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — a collaborative project that was intended to highlight regional cooperation even as political rifts have widened between the current leaders of the three countries. Sunday’s final will pit defending world champions Argentina against European powerhouse Spain for the tournament title, with Spain’s King Felipe VI also confirmed to be in attendance for the decisive match.
This coverage is part of ongoing reporting on Latin America and the Caribbean from the Associated Press.