Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced via a post on X that she will join U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey — an event she had previously said she would skip.
Sheinbaum explained her change of heart in a statement, saying, “I considered it politically important that the three countries hosting the World Cup are involved, and it is also a sign of the strong coordination and collaboration we have with the U.S. government.”
The championship match between Argentina and Spain brings the curtain down on a five-week tournament that featured 48 teams and launched in Mexico City on June 11.
Earlier in the tournament, Sheinbaum had pledged not to attend any World Cup matches as a gesture of solidarity with everyday Mexicans who couldn’t afford the steep ticket prices, which ran into the thousands of dollars. Tickets to Sunday’s final have surpassed $10,000, a spike attributed to FIFA’s switch to a dynamic pricing model.
The attendance of both Sheinbaum and Carney at the sporting event carries significant diplomatic weight, as Mexico and Canada are currently working to persuade Trump to renew the trilateral North American trade agreement.
Sheinbaum has maintained a cautious but generally cooperative relationship with Trump, carefully avoiding statements or actions that might provoke him. The dynamic between the U.S. and Canada has been more contentious, with Carney and Trump frequently exchanging sharp words and tariff threats.
On Tuesday, trade representatives from the United States and Mexico are scheduled to meet in Mexico City for a third round of negotiations focused on updating the trade agreement. Key issues on the table include steel, automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and electronic payment systems.
