In a significant diplomatic gesture, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has extended a formal invitation to King Felipe VI of Spain to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup, signaling a potential reconciliation between the two nations after years of strained relations over colonial-era controversies.
The invitation, dated February 24th and confirmed by the Spanish royal palace, comes as both countries seek to move beyond historical tensions that peaked during the administration of Sheinbaum’s predecessor. The Mexican president framed the sporting event—co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada—as “a timely opportunity to evoke the depth and unique character of the ties between Mexico and Spain.”
This diplomatic overture follows the Spanish monarch’s unprecedented acknowledgment during a museum visit in Madrid that there had been “a lot of abuse” during Spain’s conquest of what would become Mexico. King Felipe notably stated that certain historical events, when judged by contemporary values, “cannot make us feel proud”—marking the first time a Spanish monarch has publicly recognized colonial-era abuses.
President Sheinbaum, who had previously declined to invite the king to her 2024 inauguration in protest of Spain’s silence on colonial atrocities, cautiously welcomed the monarch’s comments as “a gesture of reconciliation,” though acknowledging it wasn’t “everything we would have wanted.”
The royal palace has confirmed receiving the World Cup invitation and expressed appreciation for the gesture, though it remains unclear whether King Felipe will attend the tournament scheduled for June 11-July 19, 2026. The monarch, known as an avid football enthusiast and Atlético de Madrid supporter, recently attended the UEFA Euro final between Spain and England alongside the Prince of Wales.
Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have intensified security measures ahead of the global event, launching a crackdown on violent drug cartels following the February killing of Jalisco New Generation cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, which triggered widespread violence. Despite security concerns particularly in host city Guadalajara—the epicenter of recent cartel violence—both Sheinbaum and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have assured visiting fans of adequate protection, with Mexico planning to deploy thousands of security personnel during the tournament.
This diplomatic development represents a potential turning point in bilateral relations, with Spain demonstrating increased willingness to address historical grievances through Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares’ recent acknowledgment of “pain and injustice” in the countries’ shared history.