Sheinbaum reports World Cup tourism impact: July 10 mañanera

Why today’s mañanera matters

The kidnapping in Mexico of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and his subsequent transfer to the United States on a private plane has been a hot topic all week after a journalist asserted that he had information showing that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) played a role in the operation.

In light of the report by journalist Luis Chaparro, Mexican authorities accused former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar of lying when he said in 2024 that the U.S. wasn’t involved in the capture of Zambada, who is now awaiting sentencing on drug trafficking charges in the United States. The federal government evidently believes that the FBI did collaborate with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of “Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, on the kidnapping of Zambada, and regards such collaboration in Mexico as U.S. interference in domestic affairs and consequently a violation of Mexican sovereignty.

🚨 ¿Quién decidió el traslado a EUA del piloto involucrado en la detención del “Mayo” Zambada?: Sheinbaum responde pic.twitter.com/k2QOTkBnF5

— Político MX (@politicomx) July 10, 2026

Today’s mañanera was significant as President Claudia Sheinbaum said she may speak directly to U.S. President Donald Trump about the Zambada case. While Trump wasn’t in office when the cartel capo and Guzmán López were arrested at a New Mexico airport in July 2024, his administration has interfered in affairs that are solely the domain of Mexicans, according to Sheinbaum. Examples she has cited are the CIA’s alleged participation in a drug lab raid in Chihuahua in April and U.S. prosecutors’ request for the arrest of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and various other current and former officials accused of drug trafficking in league with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Beyond the Zambada case, also of note at today’s mañanera were Sheinbaum’s remarks about the positive impact of the World Cup in Mexico — which has now concluded its hosting duties — and some happy news related to Merlin, the “World Cup duck,” one of the tournament’s biggest off-the-pitch stars.

Sheinbaum: Tourism during World Cup was ‘very positive’

A reporter noted that the national statistics agency INEGI reported on Friday that the number of international visitors who came to Mexico in May increased more than 5% annually and asked the president whether the World Cup would have boosted tourism even more in June.

Sheinbaum said that the government is waiting for Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez to compile “all the information from the whole country, particularly the three host cities, so that we can announce the impact on tourism.”

Asked whether the impact was positive, the president responded:

“Completely positive, very positive, in the number of tourists who arrived, but especially what they experienced in Mexico. What they experienced here isn’t experienced anywhere else in the world.”

On various occasions, Sheinbaum has spoken about the happiness of Mexican fans and the warm welcome the Mexican people gave to World Cup tourists from around the world. She has asserted that the World Cup atmosphere in Mexico was superior to that of its two co-hosts, the United States and Canada.

On Friday morning, Sheinbaum said she had read that people want Mexico to host the World Cup in 2038.

Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey hosted a total of 13 matches at this year’s World Cup, 12 of which were played in June. Prior to the tournament, the government forecast that 5.5 million international visitors would come to Mexico during the World Cup, but there are indications that the number was not as high as anticipated.

Sheinbaum says she could speak to Trump about ‘El Mayo’ case 

Sheinbaum told reporters that the Federal Attorney General’s Office is seeking information from the U.S. Department of Justice about the capture in Mexico and arrival in the United States of “El Mayo” Zambada.

Salazar denies lying about US role in capture of drug lord ‘El Mayo’

However, she said she could speak directly to U.S. President Donald Trump about the case. Sheinbaum said she hasn’t sought a call with Trump, but could do so.

The two presidents have spoken by telephone on various occasions, but haven’t had a substantial face-to-face meeting, although they did meet at the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, D.C., last December.

Trump has advocated the use of the U.S. military in Mexico to combat drug cartels, but Sheinbaum has rejected at least one offer from the U.S. president to send American soldiers south.

Merlin, the ‘World Cup duck,’ and family move into a new home 

Sheinbaum spoke by video link to Karla Gómez, a Mexico City street vendor and single mother who is the owner of Merlin, the “World Cup duck,” a duck now known around the world after going viral last month due to its unusual attire (for a duck) — a Mexican soccer jersey, socks and sneakers.

Gómez told the president that she and her family now have a home. She explained that she and her family used to live in a store, but after telling Sheinbaum — who she met at a mañanera last month — about their living arrangements, the president offered to help.

“One good day, God put you in my path, and that was when you asked me whether I needed anything,” Gómez said.

“I explained my situation, I showed you photos of where we lived, where we bathed and you said you would be able to help us. And that was real, you helped us,” she said.

Sheinbaum said that Gómez told her that she wanted to pay for her home, that she didn’t want it as a “gift.”

She explained that as the federal government isn’t building many “viviendas de bienestar” (“well-being” public housing dwellings) in Mexico City, she spoke to Mayor Clara Brugada and the head of the Mexico City Housing Institute (INVI) about the possibility of offering Gómez and her family an INVI home in the capital.

“We asked if there was a possibility of them having access to an apartment? They said, ‘Yes, they have to come and do their paperwork.’ [Gómez] did the paperwork and we’re very grateful because yesterday Clara gave her her home,” Sheinbaum said.

“… We’re very pleased because it’s not just about getting to know the great duck Merlin, who conquered the hearts of Mexicans and many [soccer] fans around the world, but also seeing the people and their needs,” she said.

“We wanted to tell you this great story,” the president said before Gómez, who was holding Merlin in her new home, thanked her.

“I’m more relaxed today because my sons and I are now sleeping in a different place. We’re fine and we’re no longer vulnerable,” Gómez said.

Sheinbaum said that the conveyance of the INVI apartment to Gómez, who sells water and soft drinks on the streets of Mexico City, is a “recognition of her efforts.”

“You are now a symbol of our country and city,” she said. “And I’m very pleased that you can also have well-being.”