Mexico's Sheinbaum to travel to Washington for World Cup draw

Mexico's Sheinbaum to travel to Washington for World Cup draw
Reuters

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will travel to Washington on Friday (4 December) to participate in the 2026 World Cup draw, joining U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the ceremonial event.

Speaking at a press conference, Sheinbaum said she will join U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the brief ceremonial event to determine the World Cup groups.

She stressed that the meeting will be short and that all parties will leave soon after the draw.

"I will open the ball, as is customary, to see which group we will lead. Then we will leave, and the groups will be defined. It is a very short event, but it is a good opportunity for the two presidents and the Prime Minister of Canada to be together and convey the image that North America and our trade commitment are moving forward," she said.

The president added that she had spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday (2 December) and that the U.S. State Department had informed Mexico’s foreign ministry of her invitation.

“President Trump will be happy to welcome us there,” she said.

While the gathering presents an opportunity for the first face-to-face encounter between Sheinbaum and Trump since he returned to the White House in January, the Mexican leader ruled out the possibility of a substantive bilateral meeting.

"If that were the case, it would be a very brief meeting," she noted.

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