President Sheinbaum from Mexico to participate in World Cup draw in Washington

MEXICO CITY Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, has confirmed her participation in the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The event on Friday will also see the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as the tournament will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada next summer.

Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and officially confirmed her attendance. "It will be a brief appearance. The Canadian Prime Minister and President Trump will attend, and I will be present only at the beginning to see which group we lead, then I will leave," she stated during her daily press briefing.

This occasion marks the first in-person meeting between Sheinbaum and Trump. A planned meeting at the G-7 summit in Canada in June was canceled due to Trump returning to Washington early over escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Regarding a potential private discussion with Trump during her Washington visit, Sheinbaum noted, "Its not yet confirmed. If it occurs, it would be very brief."

The 2026 World Cup is set to begin on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the tournament concluding on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Author: Connor Blake