{"id":134516,"date":"2026-07-18T13:39:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/134516\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T13:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:39:13","slug":"sports-illustrated-canadian-prime-minister-carney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/134516\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports Illustrated – Canadian Prime Minister Carney,\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum will attend the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, joining United States President Donald Trump, who has taken a central role in the lead-up to the match. <\/p>\n

While the Spain vs. Argentina clash will mark Trump and Scheinbaum\u2019s first game of the co-hosted tournament, it will be Carney\u2019s third, after the noted soccer fan attended two of Canada\u2019s group stage matches in Vancouver, including the nation\u2019s first-ever men\u2019s World Cup victory<\/a>, a 6\u20130 win over Qatar. <\/p>\n

Scheinbaum chose not to attend any of the 13 matches played in Mexico as a protest against the exorbitant ticket prices and instead watched El Tri\u2019s run to the round of 16 from various fan viewing parties. <\/p>\n

\u201cI received an invitation from President Trump to go Sunday to the final of the World Cup. I made the decision, yes, to go because, well, it\u2019s a direct invitation from the president of the United States,\u201d Sheinbaum said Friday after an event in Quintana Roo. \u201cPrime Minister Carney also will be there. I\u2019m going to record a message with more details.\u201d<\/p>\n

You showed a level of character that some people never achieve in their life.@CANMNT_Official<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8nBrPNukSa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney)
\n June 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

FIFA has confirmed that Trump will take part<\/a> in the trophy ceremony after the match, similar to his undertaking during last year\u2019s 2025 Club World Cup Final, when he and FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded Chelsea the trophy at MetLife Stadium, before Trump lingered on the stage, appearing in some championship celebration photos. <\/p>\n

There has been no update on whether Carney or Scheinbaum would also be a part of those celebrations, and plans do not include \u2018O Canada or Himno Nacional Mexicano to be played before the match, despite Jennifer Hudson being set to sing the Star Spangled Banner before the national anthems of the finalist countries. <\/p>\n

The three were together for the first time in December at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., where Infantino presented Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize. <\/p>\n

Trump, Infantino Trade Compliments Ahead of Final<\/p>\n

\"Donald
\n Donald Trump (left) and Gianni Infantino (right) spoke to reporters at an event on Friday. | Ira L. Black\/FIFA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Infantino praised Trump and the White House\u2019s World Cup efforts at an event at Trump<\/a> Tower in New York City<\/a>, where FIFA pays rent and has established an office, saying: \u201cAll this would not have been possible, and I say this because it\u2019s the truth, because you don\u2019t need people to compliment you, Mr. President, this World Cup would not have been such an incredible success without you.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the greatest human, social and cultural event mankind has ever witnessed. For this, I thank you. One country will be world champion, but the world has already won; America has won; FIFA has won.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump further added: \u201cYou should choose the United States of America again, and this time we will leave Canada and Mexico out,\u201d while seemingly joking about a co-hosted tournament with China at some point. The next men\u2019s World Cup hosting duties up for grabs are 2038, with 2030 set for Spain, Portugal and Morocco and 2034 for Saudi Arabia. <\/p>\n

Wildfire Smoke Strains Wounded North American Relationships<\/p>\n

\"New
\n New York City was blanketed in a thick smoky haze on Wednesday and Thursday. | Michael Nagle\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

U.S. relations with Canada and Mexico have been strained under Trump\u2019s presidency, largely due to trade complications. The World Cup final also comes as U.S. lawmakers propose sanctions against Canada over intense wildfire smoke<\/a> drifting south of the border from fires in Northeastern Ontario.<\/p>\n

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said that the U.S. had been \u201cinvaded\u201d by \u201cdirty air\u201d and that \u201c[the] \u200ccost of this pollution \u200bmust of necessity be added \u2060to the TARIFFS Canada \u200bis currently \u200bpaying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the U.S. accusations, Carney said Thursday: \u201cFighting climate change is the responsibility of all countries, including the United States,\u201d with the U.S. also dealing with intense blazes this summer, already burning over 5,740 square miles<\/a> of U.S. forests. <\/p>\n

The wildfire smoke hanging over the New York City Metropolitan Area is expected to slightly clear through Saturday and early Sunday, with rain forecasted, but it remains a concern leading up to the final, after smoke forced an MLS match in Chicago to be postponed due to health risks<\/a>. <\/p>\n