This Is Mexico and Canada’s World Cup, Too. Don’t Expect Unity.

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.Mexico City’s iconic stadium will host the opener for a record third time, after undergoing a near $200 million makeover for this World Cup and increasing its capacity to 87,500 seats.Credit...Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York TimesMexico and Canada have faced significant recent tension in their relations with the United States.

But in their historic World Cup bid, the three countries promoted teamwork.Mexico City’s iconic stadium will host the opener for a record third time, after undergoing a near $200 million makeover for this World Cup and increasing its capacity to 87,500 seats.Credit...Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York TimesListen · 9:09 min June 11, 2026This was supposed to be different.When this year’s World Cup was awarded to the United States, Mexico and Canada back in the summer of 2018, world leaders and soccer officials alike stressed an overarching theme: unity.“It’s an opportunity to bring the world together and highlight how well things work between Canada, Mexico and the United States,” said Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister at the time.“Canada, the United States and Mexico are profoundly united,” said Enrique Peña Nieto, then Mexico’s president.President Trump, then in his first term, agreed: “The U.S., together with Mexico and Canada, just got the World Cup.

Congratulations — a great deal of hard work!”Fast forward to Thursday, when this first-ever three-country World Cup began in Mexico.The Mexican national team faced off against South Africa in the first of the tournament’s 104 games spread all over the continent, from Vancouver and Toronto to New York and Kansas City to Monterrey and Guadalajara. (Mexico won that first match, 2-0.)ImageChildren playing soccer on a newly renovated court in Mexico City.Credit...Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York TimesThank you for your patience while we verify access.

If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT