Washington, D.C. - President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are scheduled to meet for the first time at the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington. The event, to be held at the Kennedy Center on Friday, will also be attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The three North American countries are co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sheinbaum confirmed her attendance at the event after speaking with FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday. According to Sheinbaum, the event will be brief, and she plans to attend only the beginning to see which group Mexico will lead.
This meeting marks the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Sheinbaum. A previous meeting between the two leaders was scheduled during the G-7 summit in Canada in June, but it was canceled because Trump had to return to Washington to address tensions between Israel and Iran. Sheinbaum stated that it is undecided whether she will take advantage of her visit to have a private meeting with Trump, but if it occurs, it would be very brief.
Prime Minister Carney is also expected to meet with both Trump and Sheinbaum in Washington. Trade negotiations between Canada and the United States are currently paused. Carney has maintained regular contact with Trump, despite increased duties on Canada in August. These duties do not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The meetings occur against a backdrop of complex trade relations within North America. Sweeping tariffs targeting the United States' closest neighbors have upended diplomatic and trade relations. While Carney has maintained contact with the American president, Sheinbaum's approach to the Trump administration is different.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the final to be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draw on Friday will determine the groups for the tournament. Celebrities such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal are expected to participate in the draw. The qualified teams will be drawn into one of 12 groups at the Kennedy Center.
