President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her government invited Spain's King Felipe VI to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico. Asked if she would meet him, she replied: “We'll see”. This comes days after the monarch acknowledged abuses during the Spanish arrival in Mexico.
In her morning press conference on March 19, 2026, at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the invitation sent to Spain's King Felipe VI to attend the 2026 World Cup, starting June 11. Sheinbaum Pardo clarified that Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico's representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup organization, sent invitations to leaders from countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations. “Gabriela Cuevas sent invitations to all countries in the world to come to the World Cup, but they are all countries with which Mexico has relations,” the president explained. The invitation was not exclusive to the Spanish monarch but extended to multiple nations. When asked if she would accept a meeting with Felipe VI if he attends, Sheinbaum replied cautiously: “We'll see”. This exchange occurs amid tension, days after the king publicly acknowledged “abuses” during the Spanish conquest of Mexico, though the Mexican government has pushed for a formal apology. The president did not delve into the historical issue, focusing instead on the logistics of the tournament co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
