The United States aims to make the finals of the 2026 World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet. The draw to determine the 12 groups for the 48 national teams—the largest number of participants in history—was worthy of Hollywood. “Nessun Dorma,” the famous aria from the opera Turandot, performed by Andrea Bocelli, opened a gala that also featured performances by Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lauryn Hill, one of the greatest rappers of all time. The Village People, with their popular hit “YMCA,” closed the show.

The United States may not know much about soccer [its national team isn’t among the favorites], but it certainly knows about show business, a medium in which Donald Trump thrives. The goal is for soccer to definitively seduce the country with the world’s largest advertising market, where the most tickets and licensed merchandise are sold. With 104 matches scheduled, more than ever before, FIFA expects it to be a highly lucrative tournament with an audience of 2 billion people.

The final phase begins on June 11 when Mexico and South Africa will face off at the Azteca Stadium, the venue with the most opening matches. The draw has been seemingly favorable for Spain, one of the favorites, which was placed in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Luis de La Fuente’s team enters the competition as clear favorites, along with Argentina, England, and Germany. FIFA will hold the draw for the venues and schedule this Saturday to accommodate television broadcasts.

It will be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo; it will also be the championship where Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Vitinha are expected to shine; it must also be the tournament that definitively establishes players like Lamine Yamal and Doué. However, they will be competing for attention with a figure who threatens to overshadow them all: the president of the United States, Donald Trump.

The group draw has had some peculiarities: each of the host nations will head one of the 12 groups, for which they have been given a more accessible group, at least initially. Furthermore, the top four teams in the FIFA rankings—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—cannot face each other until at least the semifinals. The two favorites, for example, Spain and Argentina, cannot meet until the final. Additionally, there cannot be more than one country from the same continent in each group, except for European teams, of which a maximum of two could be in the same group.

One of the highlights of the gala was a video message in which actor Matthew McConaughey, a huge soccer fan and owner of an MLS team, and actress Salma Hayek encouraged former soccer player Rio Ferdinand to co-host the draw with presenter Samantha Johnson. Model Heidi Klum attended the gala accompanied by American comedian Kevin Hart.

FIFA and Trump

The U.S. president’s thirst for the spotlight, indulged by FIFA leader Gianni Infantino as master of ceremonies, marked the gala, held at the Kennedy Center in the U.S. capital, and also attended by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, co-hosts of the World Cup.

An elated Trump received the new FIFA Peace Prize from his close friend Infantino, an award expressly designed to please the U.S. president, who had expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which instead went this year to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Before the winner was announced, everyone at the gala knew Trump would accept the prize, given his close friendship with the FIFA president and the latter’s determination to please his host above all else.

Relations between the three host countries have been tense since Trump took office. The three leaders sat in the same box, but separated from one another, highlighting the distance between them following the U.S. president’s threats to annex Canada and the tightening of immigration policies with raids and deportations. But soccer can thaw tempers, at least for a while. “It’s a great honor,” said Trump, before moving on to say that ticket sales have been phenomenal.

The 2026 World Cup will be held jointly in 11 U.S. cities, three Canadian cities, and two Mexican cities. While there are doubts about the United States’ ability to organize the championship due to its obsession with security and disregard for other issues affecting athletes, there are no doubts about its fantastic sense of spectacle. The organizers chose four of the brightest stars in the world of sports to draw the balls: Tom Brady, one of the greatest American football players; former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal; NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and Major League Baseball legend Aaron Judge.

Around seven million visitors are expected to travel to the United States for the games. FIFA anticipates record advertising revenue from the most expensive World Cup in history. Ticket prices for matches have doubled and, in some cases, increased eightfold. Tickets for the final, for example, can cost more than $6,700.

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The prelude to the world’s greatest sporting spectacle has kicked off in the city of the world’s greatest political showman. On Friday, the draw began for the 2026 World Cup to set up the 12 groups in which the 48 national teams — the largest number of teams ever to compete in a final phase — will be placed. A total of 104 matches will be played in just 40 days. The soccer tournament is poised to become the biggest showcase of football in the world’s largest advertising market, with an estimated seven million spectators expected to attend the matches.

The leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada were watching from the boxes of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC as FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered his opening speech, the singers Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger teamed up to sing Desire, FIFA’s first official anthem, and Andrea Bocelli performed Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot. 

As had been widely expected, Trump was also declared the winner of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize, devised by Infantino and regarded as a consolation prize for the U.S. president, who had expressed disappointment at not winning the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

The championship is jointly organized by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But U.S. President Donald Trump aspires to become the true star of the event off the pitch, thanks to his volatile and theatrical nature, controversial policies, and strained relations with Mexico and Canada.

Although Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced this week that she would attend the draw, she made it clear that it would be a brief appearance. She is trying to minimize contact with Trump. The relationship between the two leaders, who hold very different political views, has been bumpy. Trump also has a tense relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, after he threatened a few months ago to annex the country. Incidentally, Canada is the only G7 country, with which the United States has not signed a trade agreement on tariffs.

Trump appears excited about the soccer tournament. He has repeatedly stated that he will personally get involved to ensure the championship is a success. And in this case, he is certainly keeping his word. Immediately after winning last year’s presidential election, Trump ordered the creation of a task force, involving his top cabinet members, to coordinate security and logistics for the World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, the White House’s World Cup representative, said Wednesday that the effort has grown into “the largest whole-of-government sporting event operation ever undertaken in the United States.”

The draw will divide the 48 participating teams into 12 groups of four. The 32 best first-place finishers and runners-up from each group, as well as eight of the best third-place finishers, will advance to the next round. To determine the groups, four pots of 12 teams each have been created, from which the names of the national teams will be drawn.

The process has some peculiarities. The three host countries will be in Pot 1, which, in theory, keeps them from ending up in an easier group. Furthermore, the top four teams in the FIFA rankings — Spain, Argentina, France, and England — cannot face each other until at least the semifinals.

There are still four spots to be filled in the final qualifying rounds for the countries that will have to compete in the playoffs. Among them are Italy, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, and Denmark, among others.

The first game will be played on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a few miles from New York.

Andrew Giuliani, son of the former New York mayor and Trump’s lawyer, added: “The 2026 World Cup will also help us celebrate the United States’s 250th anniversary on July 4th, 2026. There will be a game in Philadelphia, where the Declaration was signed on July 4th in 1776.” During his remarks explaining the security efforts and procedures to expedite visa processing for the seven million visitors expected to attend the World Cup, he remarked: “Could you actually imagine if the United States and England played on July 4th in 2026 in Philadelphia? […] Let’s see if that actually happens. I hope England doesn’t seek revenge on us 250 years later on the pitch.” But this official did not rule out the possibility of raids and arrests taking place around the stadiums during the matches, fueling the fear among thousands of fans of the mass roundups and deportations approved by the Trump administration.

The World Cup is also marked by Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close relationship. The U.S. president invited the Swiss official to his presidential inauguration. The day before, at a Republican rally, he mentioned Infantino five times to thank him and praise their friendship. Trump has invited him to the White House on numerous occasions and calls on him to accompany him on official trips to Middle Eastern countries. The New York billionaire has offered Infantino every assistance in hosting the tournament in the United States, but some of his decisions have led to controversy.

During the draw, FIFA will award the FIFA Peace Prize, an award created by Infantino after witnessing Trump’s disappointment at not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Trump had longed for this recognition, as he publicly stated on several occasions. Although the winner of the FIFA prize is not yet officially known, everyone believes Trump will be the recipient.

The ceremony will take place at the Kennedy Center, located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It is a performing arts center that staged operas and plays before Donald Trump’s return to the White House. After the Republican took office, however, he ordered a change in the center’s management, replacing it with loyalists. The decision to host the draw at the Kennedy Center is mired in controversy and accusations of corruption, as it offered FIFA the use of its facilities free of charge.

According to the organizers, the draw ceremony is conceived as a world-class spectacle. It will be hosted by former footballer Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Samantha Johnson. There will be performances by Italian singer Andrea Bocelli; pop star Robbie Williams; and U.S. performer Nicole Scherzinger. But the standout act will be the legendary U.S. group Village People, who will close the event with their hit song Y.M.C.A. — a favorite of Trump’s, often used at his rallies and events with MAGA supporters.

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As 2025 draws to a close, President Claudia Sheinbaum maintains high approval ratings, but is beginning to feel the toll of office. Her approval rating, at 74%, remains very high compared to her predecessors, but it is the lowest level since the start of her administration, according to a survey by Enkoll conducted for EL PAÍS and W Radio.

The survey, conducted between November 28 and December 1, took place during one of the most critical moments of Sheinbaum’s government, following the assassination of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan; Generation Z demonstrations encouraged by young people and opposition leaders; and protests by transport workers and farmers. After a month of conflicts in which the government lost control of the public agenda, the president’s approval fell four points compared to the September poll.

When asked “Do you approve or disapprove of Claudia Sheinbaum’s performance as mayor?” 74% of respondents said they approve, a drop of nine points from her highest approval rating in May 2025, when it reached 83%. Her disapproval rating of 24% is also the highest since December 2024, when it stood at 21%.

The same trend is reflected in the public’s perception of the situation in Mexico. One year into her six-year term, and following a November filled with challenges that the opposition used to question the government’s efficiency, 62% believe the country’s situation is improving. This is also the lowest level since December 2014, when 71% said the country was improving. Similarly, the 34% who believe the country is “getting worsening” is the highest figure since Enkoll began conducting this survey.

With these figures, Sheinbaum is preparing to lead a rally on Saturday in Mexico City’s Zócalo square, which is expected to draw thousands of supporters of the ruling party Morena, allied organizations, and labor unions. This is the second time in less than a month that the ruling party has called for a mass rally in the country’s main public square. On October 6, the president closed a national tour at the Zócalo to mark her first report and the completion of her first year in office. This time, Sheinbaum has said the event is for “the historic celebration of seven years of transformation.” But it appears to be a response to the opposition march on November 15 and the call for another anti-government demonstration on December 14.

One striking finding of the Enkoll poll is that Sheinbaum’s lowest approval ratings are among 18- to 24-year-olds, with just 61% in favor and 37% opposed. In contrast, 80% of people aged 55 to 64 approve of Sheinbaum, as do 86% of those 65 and older. As with her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president’s biggest support comes from the beneficiaries of the universal pension for senior citizens.

Survey results, category by category

According to the December survey, Claudia Sheinbaum’s government maintains clear approval in six out of 10 evaluated areas: women’s rights (81% believe the situation is improving, 16% say it is worsening), social support programs (79%-18%), housing (67%-23%), Mexico’s relations with other countries (64%-27%), education (66%-30%), and infrastructure and public works (62%-31%).

In contrast, its main weaknesses are insecurity, drug trafficking, and corruption — areas in which the survey records the worst approval figures since the beginning of her administration, and precisely the issues on which the opposition has attacked Sheinbaum.

The assassination of Carlos Manzo, which fueled calls for greater security and public debate on the issue, may be one of the reasons for the decline in approval of the president and her government. Despite the new security strategy led by Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch and monthly figures showing a reduction in high-impact crimes released by the security cabinet, only 41% of respondents believe the country is improving in terms of security, while 57% think it is worsening. For 51% of respondents, the main problem facing the country is insecurity and drug trafficking.

Regarding the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo, most respondents (51%) rated the government’s response as poor or very poor, while only 36% considered it good or very good. However, the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice — announced by Sheinbaum to address the crisis — was better received: a majority of 52% believe it will be effective, while 42% doubt it will lead to results.

Corruption, another key issue in opposition discourse, is also beginning to take a toll on Sheinbaum. The survey reflects the impact of cases that do not directly involve her, but do involve figures from Morena, such as Senator Adán Augusto López and his alleged links to the criminal group La Barredora; Andrés López Beltrán, Morena’s secretary of organization and López Obrador’s son, and his luxury trip to Japan; Gerardo Fernández Noroña, former Senate president, and his Tepoztlán house; as well as cases inherited from the previous administration, such as the Segalmex scandal (state food agency accused of mismanaged funds and fraudulent contracts). After one year in office, despite the creation of the Ministry of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, only 38% believe the fight against corruption is improving, while 59% think it is worsening.

Two other areas where the survey shows a decline in public approval are health and the economy, both recording the worst numbers for the government since Sheinbaum took office. Forty-four percent believe health services are getting worse, while 51% think they are improving. This marks a clear drop from January, when 63% believed the situation was improving and only 30% thought it was worsening. The same trend appears in economic management, where 50% believe it is improving and 46% think it is getting worse — the lowest figures since the start of the six-year term.

The Enkoll survey also sheds light on public perception after seven years of governments under the so-called “Fourth Transformation.” Most respondents (63%) believe the country has been better under López Obrador and Sheinbaum than under the National Action Party (PAN) and Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) administrations, while 35% think it has been worse. Regarding personal and family situations, 64% perceive an improvement, while 33% believe things have worsened.

The president’s positive numbers also benefit Morena, despite scandals involving prominent party leaders and legislators. When asked, “Which party do you identify with most at this moment?” 41% responded Morena, while 27% said they are independent. With more than a year and a half to go before the major 2027 elections, few respondents identified with the opposition parties: PAN 11%, Movimiento Ciudadano (Citizens’ Movement) 7%, and PRI 5%. Morena’s allied parties, despite having greater representation in Congress than the opposition, have even lower levels of support: Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) 3% and Labor Party (PT) 2%.

However, Morena has also lost popularity in recent months. In May, Enkoll surveys recorded that 51% of the population identified with the ruling party (its highest point in the past year), meaning the party has lost nine points in four months. This decline has not been capitalized on by other political forces, which have remained at their year‑long levels. Meanwhile, those identifying as independent rose from 20% in September to 27% in December.

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