Rubio Meets Paraguay's Peña at 4-1 U.S. World Cup Win, Discussing Strategic Ties

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 13

Marco Rubio used the U.S. men’s 4-1 World Cup opener win over Paraguay on Friday to meet President Santiago Peña at SoFi Stadium, the State Department said.
The administration said Rubio discussed U.S. strategic partnerships with Peña, though officials gave no details on the agenda or whether the talks were arranged before the match.
Paraguay carries added weight for Washington because it remains one of Taiwan’s few diplomatic allies in South America as U.S.-China competition in Latin America intensifies.
Rubio’s appearance also drew political attention because he was expected in the same suite as California Governor Gavin Newsom, putting two potential 2028 contenders at the tournament opener.
The meeting highlighted how the World Cup — spread across the U.S., Canada and Mexico — is becoming a venue for diplomacy as well as sport.