“I think we're all here for soccer. So I guess that's the common ground.”
A Beer for the Beautiful Game: Three Breweries, Three Nations, One “Common Ground”
Despite rising trade tensions between the host nations of the upcoming World Cup, three independent craft breweries from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have set aside differences to create a collaborative beer: “Common Ground.”
The limited-run brew is a dry-hopped Mexican lager designed by Rey Árbol Brewing Company (Mexico), Headlands Brewing (U.S.), and Cabin Brewing Company (Canada). Each brewery has added its own local spin through unique labels and regional ingredients, creating three distinct but related versions of the same recipe.
The project began months before the tournament, coordinated entirely through video chats and emails. Brewers stated the effort is meant to foster connection and solidarity—a sentiment directly reflected in the beer’s name.
A Bittersweet Symbol
The U.S. version, produced by Headlands, is a limited run of approximately 130 cases, retailing at $15.99 for a four-pack.
Andrés Martinez, co-director of Arizona State University's Great Game Lab, described the collaboration as “a bittersweet reminder of what we were hoping to see a lot more of” in terms of cross-border business ties during the tournament.
Tariffs and Turmoil
The tournament was awarded to the three nations in 2017, when political relations were warmer. Since then, tensions have risen sharply over trade tariffs and auto manufacturing standards, directly impacting ingredient costs for brewers.
Headlands noted a 15% tariff on European-grown hops alone. Other independent brewers involved in the project have similarly felt the strain of these trade disputes on their bottom lines.
The Spirit of the Game
For fans, the message is simple. Roberto Mandujano, a fan at Headlands Brewing, summed it up: “I think we're all here for soccer. So I guess that's the common ground.”