Trump and Mexico’s President Sheinbaum Hold First In-Person Meeting at 2026 World Cup Draw — Tariffs, Not Immigration, Take Center Stage

President Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum held their first face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup draw at Washington’s Kennedy Center. The long-delayed encounter focused on tournament coordination and outstanding trade disputes — particularly U.S. tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum — rather than immigration policy.

Background: A Delayed First Meeting

The meeting came more than 10 months into Trump’s term, a notable delay given the longstanding priority U.S. presidents place on relations with their southern neighbor. An earlier planned encounter on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada was canceled after Trump returned to Washington amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.

Soccer Takes Center Stage — Tariffs Remain on the Agenda

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also attended the draw. The United States, Mexico and Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup, which begins next June, and both leaders discussed hosting logistics in addition to outstanding trade issues.

Sheinbaum said before departing Mexico that she expected a brief meeting and planned to raise remaining U.S. tariffs on Mexican automobiles, steel and aluminum. Trump confirmed he intended to meet her upon arrival.

Trade Tensions and the USMCA Review

Mexico remains the United States’ largest trading partner. Although the USMCA trade agreement negotiated during Trump’s first term remains in force, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has begun scrutinizing the pact ahead of a joint review scheduled for July.

Trump previously threatened a 25% tariff on Mexican imports to pressure Mexico to do more against fentanyl smuggling, then agreed to pause that plan. The White House has since narrowed those tariff threats, but Mexico continues to lobby to avoid broad levies that could damage its already slow-growing economy.

Immigration: Lower Crossings, Higher Tensions

A sharp drop in illegal border crossings has reduced immigration’s prominence on the bilateral agenda, shifting discussions toward cooperation on repatriation and reintegration of migrants and cajoling other countries to accept their citizens. Still, deportations remain a flashpoint.

The administration has prioritized large deportation operations in several Democratic-run U.S. cities and deployed the National Guard to support enforcement. While officials say the focus is on "the worst of the worst," many detained migrants have no violent criminal histories, which has raised concerns in Mexico and among immigrant communities in the U.S.

Security Cooperation

Mexico has increased cooperation on security matters: President Sheinbaum has empowered security chief Omar García Harfuch, and Mexican authorities have extradited dozens of cartel figures to the U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero, a suspect in the 1985 killing of a DEA agent. Mexico has also stepped up visible efforts to curb fentanyl production, attracting U.S. attention and cooperation.

Points of Tension and Diplomacy

Not all issues have been smooth. Trump criticized Sheinbaum after she rejected a proposal to allow U.S. troops to operate in Mexico to fight cartels; Sheinbaum dismissed the idea and condemned U.S. strikes on boats alleged to be carrying drugs. Trump also made a provocative comment earlier in the year, saying, "The president of Mexico is a lovely woman, but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight." Sheinbaum largely avoided escalating the exchange publicly.

Mexico unsuccessfully lobbied against a 1% U.S. tax on remittances that was approved as part of Trump’s tax and spending package and is set to take effect Jan. 1. Remittances to Mexico have fallen for several months, a point of concern for Mexican households reliant on that income.

What’s Next

While the World Cup draw provided a diplomatic setting for this first in-person meeting, deeper issues remain unresolved. The July USMCA review, continued pressure to curb fentanyl production and ongoing enforcement actions in the U.S. will shape bilateral relations in the months ahead.

Associated Press: Chris Sherman contributed from Mexico City.