Claudia Sheinbaum’s presence at the World Cup final in New York turned into an unexpected diplomatic moment, allowing her to briefly discuss the future of the North American trade agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Mexican president revealed that these conversations took place during the event, just as negotiations were set to resume in Mexico on Monday, July 20, 2026.

Originally invited only to watch the Spain vs. Argentina match, Sheinbaum had declined that invitation. But on Friday afternoon, Trump personally called her with a direct invitation to attend the final in New York: “You’re coming, Claudia,” he said. “If you invite me, I’ll come,” she replied. “Yes, you’re invited, you’ll be sitting right next to us,” Trump assured her.

Sheinbaum shared that she planned to travel commercially with her team, purchasing five tickets for her entourage to fly out Saturday afternoon. However, thunderstorms in New York forced the cancellation of their flight, and they instead flew on a military plane provided by Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense.

During the trip, Sheinbaum managed brief exchanges with key figures including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Spain’s King Felipe, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, and Mark Carney. She highlighted the World Cup’s organization as a prime example of trilateral coordination among Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.

The president arrived back in Mexico early Monday morning at 2 a.m. after a three-hour wait for a return flight amid heavy air traffic. Reflecting on the experience, she emphasized the diplomatic value of attending such a high-profile sporting event, noting that “sports foster good diplomatic relations.” She acknowledged that while the setting wasn’t ideal for deep trade talks, having the leaders of the three host countries together was positive.

Sheinbaum also pointed out her cordial personal relationship with Trump despite differences on several bilateral issues, underscoring Mexico’s ongoing commitment to maintaining strong ties with the U.S. She addressed criticism from conservative sectors, saying that whether she attended or not, she would have faced backlash. “It was the right decision to accept a personal invitation when possible, regardless of disagreements,” she said.

Regarding the trade talks, Sheinbaum explained that since the U.S. decided not to renew the T-MEC for 16 years, the agreement now requires annual renegotiations. The goal of this first annual round is to establish solid foundations so future reviews focus mainly on compliance.

A key sticking point remains the U.S. push to tighten rules of origin, aiming for more products to be made in North America—and increasingly within the U.S. Sheinbaum stressed Mexico’s determination to protect its economy and called for the elimination of tariffs on Mexican goods.

This episode highlights how informal diplomatic moments, even at a soccer final, can influence critical economic discussions shaping the future of North American cooperation.