| Keyword |
Description |
| Playoff |
Extra games that decide which team wins the last place in a tournament |
| Summit |
A formal meeting where important leaders discuss serious issues like trade or security |
| Tariffs |
Special taxes a government puts on products traded between countries |
President Claudia Sheinbaum went to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to help with the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, together with U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The three leaders took turns picking balls from glass bowls to decide the groups for Mexico, the United States and Canada, since these three countries will host the tournament. Mexico was placed in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and the winner of a European playoff, and the opening match will be at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. Sheinbaum said she will give her free ticket for that first game to a young girl and described Mexico as an exceptional, beautiful and magical country whose people have loved ball games for centuries, referring to the ancient “juego de pelota.”
The ceremony was also important because it was the first time Sheinbaum, Trump and Carney met in person as the leaders of the three co-host nations. A TV Azteca reporter asked Trump what it meant to take part in the event, and he used the moment to praise Sheinbaum, calling her a good president doing very good work, which surprised many people. After the show, the three leaders held a private mini-summit to talk about trade, since Trump’s recent tariffs had shaken economic relations between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada and the USMCA trade agreement will soon be reviewed. The event showed how sports, politics and business can mix: leaders can smile and celebrate soccer on stage, while still facing serious disagreements about trade and security behind closed doors.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| World Cup |
Copa Mundial |
| Sports |
Deportes |
| Politics |
Políticos |
Time to discuss
- Do big sports events like the World Cup help countries get along better?
- Why might a leader praise another leader during a public event?
- Is it fair to use tariffs to pressure other countries?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Describe how hosting a World Cup match could change the way other countries see your country.
- Explain whether you think politics and sports should stay separate or can be mixed, and why.
