President Donald Trump is not expected to attend the US opening ceremony for the World Cup or the United States' opening match of the tournament on Friday. Mexico, Canada, and the USA will each host their own opening ceremony in the coming days. Shakira and Burna Boy will help raise the curtain tonight ahead of El Tri's opening game against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé are part of the line-up for Canada's opening ceremony on Friday evening before their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US show will take place later that night ahead of their opening match against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Presidential Absence
Paraguay President Santiago Pena will travel to California, but Trump is not currently expected to attend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the official US delegation, joined by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, as announced by the State Department.
UFC Event at White House
While the World Cup takes center stage, another major sporting event is happening near Trump. UFC Freedom 250 will take place at the White House on Sunday, June 14, with the Octagon relocated to the South Lawn for championship fights. Trump has a long association with the MMA giant, hosting events at his Atlantic City casinos. He and UFC President Dana White are close friends. The event celebrates 250 years of US independence, and Sunday also marks Trump's 80th birthday.
The President will have other duties leading up to the UFC event, with walkthroughs starting Friday that will keep him in the capital, according to The Athletic.
Mexico President Also Absent
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum will also not attend her nation's opening match against South Africa, having given away her ticket. 'They are the pride of Mexico. They will not represent the president, or the head of government, they will represent Mexico,' Sheinbaum said at a news conference after handing her ticket to a fan.
