Mexico has invited Spain's King Felipe VI to attend the World Cup opening match, with Mexico's government representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Gabriela Cuevas, to all countries with diplomatic ties in Mexico. This follows a speech by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticising the decline of "great Western empires" and suggested that allies should not be shackled by guilt and shame. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not invite the Spanish king to her 2024 inauguration after he declined to apologise for colonial-era abuses.