The leaders of World Cup host nations Mexico and the U.S. will skip their countries' opening matches, breaking a long-standing diplomatic tradition. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum cited solidarity with citizens unable to afford high ticket prices and gave her ticket to an Indigenous athlete. U.S. President Donald Trump also criticized the costs. The decisions come as Mexico faces widespread protests from teachers and other groups using the event's spotlight.
Sheinbaum skipping World Cup opener
- ▪Sheinbaum's stated reason for her absence is to show solidarity with Mexicans who cannot afford the event's high ticket prices
- ▪Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will not attend the opening match or any other game of the 2026 World Cup
- ▪Analysts suggest Sheinbaum's decision is a political maneuver to avoid being booed at the stadium amid the domestic crises
Ticket giveaway Indigenous athlete
- ▪Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old Nahua athlete, won a national contest for the ticket by submitting a viral video of her juggling a soccer ball
- ▪President Sheinbaum gave her ticket to the opening game to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a young Indigenous woman
World Cup diplomatic tradition
- ▪Leaders of host nations typically preside over their country's opening World Cup match, a decades-long tradition of sports diplomacy
- ▪The World Cup is often used as an instrument of soft power for leaders to affirm their global presence and improve their reputation
High ticket prices criticism
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the high cost of tickets, stating he "wouldn't pay it either."
- ▪The 2026 World Cup has drawn criticism for its excessively high ticket prices and access restrictions
Mexico domestic political crises
- ▪Recent clashes between protesters and riot police in Mexico City resulted in five injured protesters after police used teargas
- ▪Striking teachers from the CNTE union are protesting in Mexico City for better wages and the return of a state-guaranteed pension system
- ▪Other groups in Mexico, including transport workers, farmers, and sex workers, are also planning to protest during the World Cup
Host leaders attendance uncertainty
- ▪Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is also likely to miss his country's opening game due to diplomatic meetings and the G7 summit in Europe
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend the U.S. opening match of the World Cup
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