Trump Meets Mexican Counterpart Sheinbaum at FIFA World Cup Draw

President Donald Trump finally met with Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, marking a long-delayed first face-to-face discussion between the two leaders. The meeting, which took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., focused on the upcoming World Cup, with side discussions about trade and tariffs. Immigration, a contentious issue that has driven tensions between the two countries, was not the top priority during the meeting. According to sources, Trump and Sheinbaum sat talking in the president's box and also appeared onstage with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (not Mark Carney) at the World Cup draw. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the tournament, which is set to begin in 2026. The meeting was seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss key issues, including trade and tariffs, which have been a point of contention between the two countries. Sheinbaum, who is the head of government of Mexico City, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations in a statement after the meeting. "We had a very productive conversation about the World Cup and other issues that affect our countries," she said. "We are committed to working together to ensure the success of the tournament and to strengthen our bilateral relationship." The meeting was seen as a significant development in the relationship between the two countries, which has been strained in recent years due to Trump's push to crack down on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump's administration has implemented a range of policies aimed at reducing immigration, including the construction of a border wall and the expansion of immigration enforcement. The delay in the meeting was attributed to scheduling conflicts, with Trump and Sheinbaum initially set to meet in June on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada. However, the meeting was scrapped after Trump rushed back to Washington early amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The meeting was also seen as an opportunity for Trump to discuss the upcoming World Cup with Sheinbaum, which is set to be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The tournament is expected to be a major event, with millions of fans attending games across the three countries. In a statement, the White House said that Trump and Sheinbaum had a "productive conversation" about the World Cup and other issues. The statement did not provide further details about the meeting or the discussions that took place. The meeting between Trump and Sheinbaum marks a significant development in the relationship between the two countries, which has been strained in recent years. The two leaders are expected to continue working together to strengthen their bilateral relationship and to ensure the success of the World Cup.