The President of the United States, Donald Trump, invited the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, to attend the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 this Sunday, which will feature Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Sheinbaum confirmed her attendance at the match on Friday, following an official event in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. The leader specified that she will leave Mexico this Saturday afternoon and return on Monday morning.
"I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to accept because it is a direct invitation from the President of the United States. Prime Minister (Mark) Carney will also be there," Sheinbaum declared.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, will also be present at the meeting at Trump's invitation, making the final a gathering of the three leaders of the host countries of the tournament: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This marks the second time that the three leaders have met in the same space. The first took place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, during the draw for the World Cup groups, and it was also the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Sheinbaum.
Trump's attendance at the final has been confirmed for days, as announced by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
The president will participate in the trophy presentation ceremony alongside the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and on Friday he attended a reception hosted by the organization at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Neither of the two leaders attended the tournament's opening match. Trump sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his place, while Sheinbaum gave her ticket to an indigenous girl who plays soccer.
The journey of the Mexican president takes place at a time of high diplomatic tension between both countries. Mexico is preparing its priorities for the third round of T-MEC negotiations with the United States, scheduled between Tuesday, July 21, and Thursday, July 23, in Mexico City.
That round will be the first of the new phase following the six-year review of the treaty, after Washington decided on July 1 not to extend the agreement under its current terms for another 16 years, keeping it in effect until 2036 but subject to annual evaluations.
The relationship between both governments has been marked by friction regarding cartels, tariffs, and migration, although Sheinbaum and Trump have maintained approximately 20 phone calls since January 2026 to manage those issues.
In the sporting arena, the final this Sunday will be a historic clash in World Cup history. Spain reached the match after eliminating France 2-0 on July 14 in Arlington, Texas, while Argentina overcame England 2-1 on July 15 in Atlanta. Lionel Messi will equal the Brazilian Cafu as the only player to participate in three World Cup finals, following those in 2014 and 2022.
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