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Mexico extends World Cup invitation to Spanish monarch
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has invited King Felipe VI of Spain to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, the Spanish royal palace announced on Thursday. The move signals a potential easing of tensions between the two nations over historical grievances.
Historical tensions resurface
Relations between Mexico and Spain have been strained in recent years due to Spain's colonial legacy in the Americas. In 2019, Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, demanded an official apology from Spain for human rights abuses committed during the conquest of Mexico, including the fall of the Aztec empire. The request went unanswered, and Sheinbaum notably excluded Felipe from her 2024 inauguration.
King acknowledges colonial abuses
During a visit to an exhibition on indigenous Mexican women at Madrid's National Archaeological Museum, Felipe acknowledged the "abuse" that occurred during Spain's colonization of the Americas. "There are things that, when we study them with today's values, cannot make us proud," he said. The statement, shared on the royal household's Instagram account, marks the first public recognition of colonial-era abuses by a Spanish monarch.
"One could say that it is not everything we would have wanted, but it is a gesture of reconciliation."
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexican President
Diplomatic overtures
Sheinbaum's invitation, sent on February 24, framed the World Cup as an opportunity to "evoke the depth and unique character of the ties between Mexico and Spain." She described these ties as rooted in "historical brotherhood" and a "shared legacy of language, culture, and collective memory." The Spanish royal palace welcomed the invitation but did not confirm whether Felipe would attend the tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
Security concerns ahead of tournament
Mexico has intensified efforts to curb cartel violence ahead of the World Cup, which is expected to draw a surge of international tourists. However, the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes in a military operation in February triggered retaliatory violence across the country. Guadalajara, a host city and the capital of Jalisco state, has been a focal point of the unrest.
Despite the turmoil, Sheinbaum has assured visitors there is "no risk" to fans, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed confidence in Mexico's security measures. Authorities plan to deploy thousands of security personnel during the event.
Spain's evolving stance on colonial history
While Spain has not taken formal steps to reexamine its colonial past, officials have shown a willingness to acknowledge historical harm. In October, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares earned praise from Sheinbaum after stating that "pain and injustice" marked the countries' shared history. Felipe's recent remarks align with this shift, though they fall short of a formal apology.
