The long-awaited trilateral meeting between the United States, Canada and Mexico had to wait until the end of the draw for the 2026 World Cup. The meeting between Donald Trump, Mark Carney and Claudia Sheinbaum was “a long one,” in the words of the Mexican president, who told reporters that it lasted “almost an hour.” Journalists were waiting for her when she went out for a subsequent meeting with the expatriate community in Washington, the city that hosted the FIFA draw last Friday. Sheinbaum used his conciliatory tone, and stressed that the meeting with Trump and Carney was very friendly and positive. In addition, the president confirmed that she invited Donald Trump to visit Mexico and that he, in turn, made her the same offer to return to Washington: “We will agree on a date soon.”
“We talked about many topics and agreed to continue working,” Sheinbaum added at the gates of the Mexican Cultural Institute on the first snowy day of the season in Washington. “The good thing is that it was a very friendly meeting and I am leaving on a very positive note.” The president noted that among these issues was not the North American Free Trade Agreement (USMCA), the future of which Trump has questioned due to his aggressive tariff policy. “We’re not talking about that yet,” she cautioned, though she expected that would be one of the main topics of the meeting. The president also did not mention the possibility of a third batch of Mexican criminals being extradited to US prisons, as already happened in February and August.
Upon her arrival there was a group of mariachi and a handful of supporters who welcomed her with shouts of “You are not alone” and “What an honor to be with Claudia today.” Some even wore jackets that said 2024-2030, a nod to their six-year term. For example, Julio Monroy came from neighboring Virginia with a football to see if he could get the president to sign it. Monroy did not make it, but he left at least happy with the luck the draw had brought his country. Mexico will play their opening match at the Estadio Azteca against South Africa – in a different venue, but the same opponents they played in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup – and then they will have to face a powerful South Korean side and whoever remains from the decider between Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic or Ireland.
The World Cup had to come for Trump to grant a truce to Mexico and Canada. After nearly a year of attacks, in which the US president imposed and rolled back tariffs and, in the Mexican case, backed away from the idea of launching a military offensive to combat drug trafficking, the three leaders met on Friday in Washington. Sheinbaum stated that “the most important thing” in this meeting was the agreement that they “will continue to work.”
The president, who in an unprecedented gesture will not be present at the opening match of the World Cup – where she will give up her seat to an “aboriginal girl who loves soccer” – has agreed to attend the FIFA draw. One reason in particular was to meet Trump in person, after dozens of calls and months of correspondence. “What motivates me to go is that we bring the three countries together in a scenario of sports, peace and unity and that I have the opportunity to meet with President Trump in person and be able to agree on where the whole process of trade-related agreements will continue,” he said this week when confirming his trip to Washington.