President Claudia Sheinbaum made a last-minute decision to attend the 2026 World Cup final in New York after receiving a direct personal invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call last Friday.
“I told him: ‘Well, if you invite me, President Trump.’ He said: ‘Yes, yes, you’re invited. You’ll be sitting right there with us,’” Sheinbaum recounted during her morning press conference last Monday. She had initially planned not to attend despite having received a prior invitation from FIFA, but changed her mind after Trump’s call. She said accepting the U.S. president’s invitation was the “polite” thing to do.
Sheinbaum’s trip almost fell apart when severe weather over New York grounded her commercial flight out of Cancún. While she normally eschews preferential travel, she had no choice but to ask the Defense Ministry to provide an official jet to get her to the stadium in time.
Once at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0, Sheinbaum took the opportunity to briefly discuss trade matters with Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Her decision to attend the final marked her first in-person meeting with Trump since the World Cup draw in December last year.
The president described the atmosphere at the final as cordial and respectful, and highlighted the coordination among the three host nations throughout the tournament. She also participated in the awards ceremony, presenting the Ballon d’Or award to Spain midfielder Rodri.
Sheinbaum had notably declined to attend the World Cup’s opening match in Mexico City, instead giving her ticket to a young Indigenous woman. Her detractors claimed she skipped it to avoid being booed by the crowd, though she currently enjoys one of the highest approval ratings of any recent president. Meanwhile, Trump and Infantino were roundly booed when they took to the field in New Jersey for the trophy presentation.