6 - 2026 - The Baring Archive

As the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the USA, Canada and Mexico, excitement is building worldwide as fans come together to celebrate the beautiful game. A selection of documents from the Baring Archive highlights Barings’ longstanding relationships with all three host countries as well as the enthusiasm for football among its staff.

The United States plays a central role in this year’s tournament; hosting matches across 11 cities. Barings had a particularly close relationship with the country and was a significant force in the development of US finance. Its most famous involvement was the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the largest real estate transaction in history. Barings helped finance the acquisition by placing US government bonds in European markets, and Alexander Baring travelled to Paris alongside James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston to support the negotiations.

1735 revision of the first map of the Mississippi valley system, published by Guillaime De L’Isle in 1718, showing much of the area acquired by the United States from France in 1803. (ref: PR157)

This relationship continued throughout the nineteenth-century, with Barings linked to a range of financial activities. A bond from 1865, with interest payable at Barings, was connected to the Massachusetts Bounty Fund, which provided enlistment bonuses to Civil War soldiers to encourage recruitment. Later, in 1898, Barings acted as Power of Attorney in the sale of an acetylene gas apparatus developed by New Jersey inventor Eugene Bournonville – linking the firm to the state where the 2026 World Cup final will be held.

Mexico and Canada feature prominently as co-hosts of the tournament. In 1862, Barings clerk George White was sent to Mexico to negotiate on behalf of British bondholders. During his travels, White produced letters and watercolours that offer vivid insights into nineteenth-century Mexico. White’s letter written from Orizaba in April 1862 captures the political turbulence affecting the region at the time although his tranquil watercolour looks very calm.

Barings also funded Canada’s Grand Trunk Railway in 1857, North America’s first international railway. This opened access to Canada’s natural resources, and Barings supported this major project by issuing debentures and taking a role on the company’s board.

Alongside financial activities, football formed an important part of life at Barings. Staff organised teams and matches that fostered camaraderie and friendly rivalry with other City firms. Photographs show Barings’ football teams from c1908 and 1965, offering a glimpse into the firm’s sporting culture over time.

Barings’ football team c1980 (ref: DEP.218)

Photographs of the 1965 match between Barings and Eton Manor. Although Barings lost 2-1 to Eton Manor the images capture the team’s enthusiasm for the game. Eton Manor was an East London Boys Club founded by Arthur Villiers, a Barings director.(ref: 203047)

Altogether, these records reveal how Barings connected people, markets and countries through their global reach and social culture. To find out more take a look at our catalogues about Barings’ 19th century connections to North America and Latin America or browse the records available in our Digitised Collections.