Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Washington on Friday, holding private talks focused on trade, immigration, and regional cooperation. The meeting followed the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, where the three leaders appeared together onstage before watching the event from a VIP box.

According to the White House, the discussions were informal and took place without staff, lasting about 45 minutes, as reported by Canadian media. While official details were not released, Trump signaled beforehand that trade issues and immigration would dominate the agenda, emphasizing that relations with both neighboring countries were “going very well.”

The gathering came at a critical moment as the United States, Mexico, and Canada prepare for the mandatory 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Rising U.S. tariffs and renewed calls from Washington to renegotiate — or potentially withdraw from — the pact have intensified regional economic concerns. A recent Politico report suggested Trump could move to exit the agreement next year, though U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later stressed that USMCA remains the law governing North American trade.

For Sheinbaum, the meeting marked her first in-person encounter with Trump since taking office last October. Trump has praised her leadership while urging Mexico to ramp up efforts to combat drug cartels and the trafficking of fentanyl across the border. He has also pushed to maintain a 25% tariff on Mexican goods that fail to meet USMCA compliance standards.

Relations with Canada have been less smooth. Despite an amicable meeting with Carney in October, Trump later halted trade discussions after Ontario released an advertisement that used archived Ronald Reagan footage criticizing tariffs. Trump has also threatened additional duties on Canadian imports, though no increases have yet been implemented.

The leaders’ joint appearance at the World Cup draw added a moment of unity amid the ongoing trade uncertainty, while Trump received an inaugural FIFA peace prize for promoting dialogue in global conflict zones.