Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum invites Spain’s King Felipe VI to the 2026 World Cup, marking a diplomatic thaw after historical tensions.

MEXICAN President Claudia Sheinbaum has personally invited Spain’s King Felipe VI to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The royal palace confirmed the invitation, stating the king received it “with pleasure, within the framework of the fraternal friendship between the two countries.”

This diplomatic gesture follows the king’s recent acknowledgement of abuses during Spain’s conquest of the Americas. “There was much abuse,” he stated during a visit to an Indigenous Mexican art exhibition in Madrid.

He added that some historical actions, by today’s standards, “obviously cannot make us feel proud.”

In her letter, Sheinbaum described the World Cup as “a timely opportunity to evoke the depth and unique character of the ties between Mexico and Spain.” She said these ties were “forged through a historical brotherhood and supported by the shared legacy of language, culture, and collective memory.”

Relations between the two nations have been strained since 2019. That year, Mexico’s government demanded an apology from the Spanish crown for conquest-era abuses.

Sheinbaum notably excluded the king from her October 2024 inauguration, partly due to Spain’s lack of response to that demand. The king’s comments are the latest effort by a Spanish official to ease tensions.

Last year, Spain’s foreign minister acknowledged the “pain and injustice” inflicted on Indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also stated that improving ties with Mexico is a government priority, referencing “light and shadow” in their shared history.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, will run from June 8 to July 19.

 The Sun Malaysia