The 2026 World Cup will be held amid a turbulent period in diplomatic relations between the United States, Mexico and Canada AFP via Getty Images/BBC It's like arriving at a dinner party at the exact moment the hosts are in the middle of a heated argument. Fans traveling to North America to watch the 2026 World Cup will find three host countries going through moments of tension. The tournament will be played in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada, which are facing a turbulent period in their diplomatic relations. The current problems seemed far away when the leaders of the three countries gathered for the World Cup group draw in the US capital, Washington DC, in December. They even posed for a selfie with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. But maintaining the same cohesion throughout a tournament that will last 39 days will probably be very different. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has been bluntly highlighting that his country is the dominant power on the continent. This brought to light the very concrete tensions that exist between the three nations, in sectors such as trade, migration and drug trafficking, which have come to a boil since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. On the other hand, if everything goes well, the World Cup could establish stronger ties between the three countries. Tensions over trade, tourism — and Trump Mexico and Canada are the United States' main trading partners. But they didn't forget that they were among the first countries to be hit by Donald Trump's import tariffs. Canada had already been outraged by the American president's repeated comments about turning the country into the American "51st State" and responded with its own counter measures. Canadian provinces removed American drinks from shelves and their citizens considerably reduced their trips to their southern neighbor, which also ended up angering the United States. Problems with the United States have also damaged relations between Canada and Mexico, says Carlo Dade, director of international policy at the University of Calgary in Canada. Canada was accused of "betraying" the Mexicans even before Trump's second term, when American and Canadian officials accused Mexico of serving as a gateway for Chinese investments in North America. “It was complete disrespect,” comments Dade. The episode led Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to also seek to remedy the situation with Mexico, while trying to diversify the country's trade away from the United States. Three is too many This is the first time that the World Cup has been held in three countries. And, as the 2026 tournament involves an entire continent, there are a huge number of authorities involved. With fans traveling between the three nations to watch matches, the tightening of US immigration controls could create logistical difficulties and inflame the already frayed nerves of those involved. And American security concerns, amplified by the ongoing war against Iran, could bring even more frustrations and create the potential for seemingly innocuous incidents to escalate unexpectedly. Wesley is cut from the national team due to an injury to his left leg; midfielder Éderson is called up “Jointly promoting global sporting events is not necessarily a recipe for a pleasant relationship between host countries,” says Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, writer and professor of global sport at New York University, in the United States. Krasnoff recalls that the 2023 Women's World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, had positive results. But the 2002 men's tournament in Japan and South Korea was considered a mixed bag between two nations with a long and uneven history. "The event did not harm bilateral relations, but it is historically considered a kind of tie", explains the professor. FIFA itself has expressed high hopes for this model. "It is a moment when three countries and an entire continent say together: 'We are united to welcome the world and deliver the biggest, best and most inclusive FIFA World Cup ever," said world football's governing body. Covering the sun with a sieve? The leaders of each of the nations may wish to use the tournament not only to show that they can get along with their neighbors, but to debunk critics on domestic issues. This is certainly the case in Mexico, where there is a certain apprehension about the World Cup. There are systematic doubts about the capacity of the Mexican capital's main airport, its saturated public transport system and the Azteca Stadium itself, in Mexico City, now renovated. Not to mention the presence of cartel members on the streets just a few months ago in a brief but widespread display of violence. Now, the main teachers' union is promoting a national strike, demanding better working conditions and increased pensions. Mass protests threaten to close the main roads leading to the games. Its slogan is "without a solution [for your demands], the ball doesn't roll". Mexico and South Africa open the 2026 World Cup at the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City, on June 11 AFP via Getty Images/BBC But despite all the difficulties, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum remains resolute and confident. "This is the moment to witness the best football in the world and show everyone who we are," she declared last year, "not just a country with immense cultural heritage, but one of empowered people." It would be wrong to cover the sun with a sieve, covering up the problems faced by Mexico during the preparation for the World Cup, argues Mexican sports journalist Rafael Puente. "I really hope that fans show patience and good behavior in the face of some of these problems that we cannot hide", he highlights. "All we can hope for is the excitement, illusion and expectation that the Mexican people have shown in the past, particularly regarding the participation of the national team." The trio's goals beyond the tournament Analysts indicate that the three North American neighbors could achieve other achievements if they achieve success in the sport in the coming weeks. The trio is in the midst of a difficult review of the historic North American free trade agreement, known as USMCA, for its acronym in English. This review brought uncertainty about the continent's commercial partnership, maintained in some form since 1994. Mexico has already begun formal negotiations with the United States, which is expected to be followed by Canada. Canadians are seeking to strengthen their trade ties with China, while Mexico has increased its import tariffs on the Asian country. Both are moving in different directions regarding the Trump administration's "increased importance of China as a primary concern," according to Dade. Trump, Sheinbaum and Carney posed for a selfie with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the World Cup group draw in December Getty Images via BBC The World Cup offers an opportunity for diplomacy, as we saw when Trump, Carney and Sheinbaum gathered, smiling, during the group draw in December. “When you bring leaders together, something good usually comes out,” says Dade. Trump frequently boasts about his country as the "most attractive" in the world. He certainly sees the World Cup as an opportunity to put the United States in the global spotlight. Their desire to dominate events, whether by attending events or posting on the Truth Social network, could fuel resentment between the two neighboring countries — and harm diplomatic relations on the continent in the long term. On the other hand, he is heavily invested in the success of the tournament and may try even harder to avoid diplomatic incidents that could derail events. Football is a box of surprises, says the old saying. And as unpredictable as the sport itself are the possible results of this new experiment, of bringing together three countries to promote a World Cup. "It was known from the beginning that it would be very complicated, right from the definition of the host countries", concludes Krarsnoff. 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