It was all smiles at Washington DC's Kennedy Centre as the leaders of the US, Mexico and Canada took the stage for the 2026 World Cup draw, even as trade tensions simmered in the background. For Donald Trump, the brief interaction marked his first meeting with Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, who leads the largest trading partner for the US. While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has already met with Trump several times, trade talks have been halted. Trump signalled that the US is still weighing whether it will leave in place a single long-standing free trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico or look at separate bilateral deals.
The agreement - known as the USMCA - is up for a mandatory review next year. Carney has credited it with shielding Canadian businesses from the bulk of US-imposed tariffs on Canada. However, those underlying tensions seemed distant on Friday when the leaders took the stage together to select the balls of their own countries from bowls, marking the beginning of a process to select groups for the initial stage of the jointly-hosted tournament. The leaders' body language appeared cordial and warm. Collectively, they posed for a selfie with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage. Reporters later saw Trump sitting with Sheinbaum, who expressed her intent to discuss trade matters, including steel and automobile tariffs, with Trump during the event.
The fate of the USMCA remains uncertain, especially with Trump's possible consideration of separating the agreements for Canada and Mexico based on differing economic relationships. The World Cup draw not only indicated a collaborative spirit but also highlighted ongoing discussions regarding trade and tariffs. Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the event, further emphasizing the blending of sports and diplomacy.
The agreement - known as the USMCA - is up for a mandatory review next year. Carney has credited it with shielding Canadian businesses from the bulk of US-imposed tariffs on Canada. However, those underlying tensions seemed distant on Friday when the leaders took the stage together to select the balls of their own countries from bowls, marking the beginning of a process to select groups for the initial stage of the jointly-hosted tournament. The leaders' body language appeared cordial and warm. Collectively, they posed for a selfie with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage. Reporters later saw Trump sitting with Sheinbaum, who expressed her intent to discuss trade matters, including steel and automobile tariffs, with Trump during the event.
The fate of the USMCA remains uncertain, especially with Trump's possible consideration of separating the agreements for Canada and Mexico based on differing economic relationships. The World Cup draw not only indicated a collaborative spirit but also highlighted ongoing discussions regarding trade and tariffs. Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the event, further emphasizing the blending of sports and diplomacy.
