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MEXICO CITY — President Claudia Sheinbaum met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the National Palace Monday, marking what officials described as a “productive” encounter and what historians may eventually describe as the most underacknowledged diplomatic performance of the decade, conducted entirely under the cover of football administration.
In the past six months, Sheinbaum has offered sanctuary to Iran after the United States suggested their players might not survive the trip, absorbed 46 separate requests from nations seeking refuge from the US co-host, managed cartel violence in Guadalajara severe enough to threaten Mexico’s hosting status, overseen the renovation of the oldest World Cup stadium on earth, coordinated a transport operation for 80,000 people in a city with unfinished parking lots, and maintained throughout a tone of such consistent and unruffled diplomacy that the phrase “we have relations with every country in the world” has become, effectively, a foreign policy doctrine.
Infantino called it “a fiesta.” He also gave her a red card. A novelty one. As a gift. Sources confirmed she smiled.
The FIFA Prize for Peacebuilding Through Football, previously awarded to Donald Trump — a man currently conducting an active military operation in the Middle East — has not been offered to Sheinbaum, who has spent six months using football as a vehicle for actual peacebuilding. The prize committee did not respond to questions about the distinction. Infantino did not raise the subject during Monday’s meeting.
Infantino flew home. Iran still needs somewhere to play. The parking is ongoing.
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