Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on 18 July that she will attend the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday, accepting a direct invitation from US President Donald Trump. The decision, announced after a commercial flight from Cancún was cancelled due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfires, places her alongside Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at MetLife Stadium for the first in-person gathering of the three leaders since the tournament draw in Washington last December. Sheinbaum formally notified the Mexican Congress of her absence from 18 to 20 July, as required by the constitution for trips under seven days, and stated she would submit a report on any agreements reached upon her return.

According to a video message released by her office, Sheinbaum framed the visit as a diplomatic necessity. “I considered it important, in diplomatic terms, that the three countries that hosted this World Cup be present,” she said, adding that the trip “is a sign that there is good coordination, good collaboration with the government of the United States.” The Mexican government’s notification to Congress described her role as attending “in representation of Mexico” at the invitation of both FIFA and the US president. Canadian officials have confirmed Carney’s attendance but have not signalled any formal bilateral or trilateral meetings on the sidelines.

The encounter unfolds against a backdrop of strained trade relations. On 1 July, Washington confirmed it would not extend the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for an additional 16 years, instead keeping the pact in force until 2036 under annual reviews. The third round of negotiations on the agreement’s future is scheduled to begin in Mexico City just two days after the final. Viewed from Washington, the invitation extends a pattern of personal engagement by Trump even as his administration pursues a harder line on trade deficits and security cooperation. In May, the State Department initiated a review of 53 Mexican consulates following the deaths of two CIA officers during an operation in northern Mexico.

Sheinbaum’s presence at the final contrasts with her absence from the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City, where she gave her ticket to a young Indigenous woman, and from other matches hosted by Mexico. Opposition figures in Mexico City have criticised the trip, noting that the president previously cited high ticket prices as a reason for not attending domestic fixtures. Spanish King Felipe VI and members of the royal family are also expected at the final, while Argentine President Javier Milei will not attend, citing personal superstitions.

The Mexican presidency has not disclosed whether Sheinbaum will hold formal talks with Trump or Carney. The congressional notification pledges a subsequent report on “results and agreements reached.” With USMCA talks resuming imminently, the brief encounter in New Jersey will be scrutinised for any informal signals on the trajectory of North American trade integration.