On Thursday, December 4, at 9:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council will host a series of conversations exploring the various opportunities and challenges that sports diplomacy presents.

The United States is entering a decade in which it will host a series of major sporting events, beginning with the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by Canada and Mexico). The events present a historic opportunity for the United States to harness sports as an instrument of power—advancing diplomacy, business, development, and international partnerships.

This event will include conversations, hosted by the Africa Center, with nations that have previously hosted major sporting events and also with international sports leaders, policymakers, and private-sector executives on how sports can serve as a driver of business, development, collaboration, influence, and diplomacy. It will also include a discussion, hosted by the Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative, with private-sector thinkers on national-security and resilience-related questions, threats, and opportunities ahead of and during the World Cup.

New policy: In-person attendees will be required to show photo ID upon arrival, and no on-site registration will be permitted. Guests will not be admitted later than twenty minutes after the event’s start time. Registration for this event will close at 5:00 p.m. ET the day prior.

Please complete the form below to register for this event.

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*Full agenda to be finalized soon.

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