As the FIFA World Cup 2026 comes to an end, the conversations around the tournament’s legacy continue. Beyond the results, records and unforgettable moments on the pitch, major sporting events also raise a broader question: how can sport contribute to dialogue, cooperation and positive social change long after the final whistle?
This question was at the heart of the World Cup Diplomacy Summit 2026, organised by UNITAR on 4-5 June at the United Nations headquarters in New York, bringing together representatives from governments, international organisations, sports institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector. Peace and Sport contributed to these discussions through the participation of Ludovic Dau, Director of Impact & Sport Diplomacy, and Ernesto Lucena, Peace and Sport Representative in LATAM and former Minister of Sport of Colombia.
The Summit’s outcomes have now been consolidated into the UNITAR Sport Diplomacy White Paper. This landmark document proposes an action framework for harnessing sport as a driver of diplomacy, sustainable development and international cooperation.
Through its contribution to this collective reflection, Peace and Sport brought the perspective of an Organisation with nearly two decades of experience using sport as a tool for peace. Its contribution highlights how grassroots experience can inform international policy discussions, while demonstrating how athletes can become powerful ambassadors for dialogue and positive change when equipped with the right support and preparation.
The experience shared by Peace and Sport reinforces one of the White Paper’s central messages: sport diplomacy is most effective when international ambition is connected to local action and when the people delivering it have the skills and opportunities to create meaningful impact.
Legacy and diplomacy: building impact from the ground up
One of the White Paper’s central messages is that the legacy of major sporting events extends well beyond infrastructure, economic benefits or international visibility. Lasting legacy is also measured by the social connections, opportunities and resilience that sport helps create within communities.
This perspective is illustrated through a case study contributed by Peace and Sport, drawing on its experience in Colombia, where sport-based educational programmes have helped create protective environments for young people living in communities affected by violence. By strengthening social cohesion and offering alternatives to exclusion, these initiatives demonstrate how sport can contribute to safer and more resilient communities.
The case study reflects a key principle running throughout the White Paper: sport diplomacy is not limited to relations between states or to the staging of major events. It is equally built through people-to-people connections, local leadership and sustained engagement within communities. Playing fields, schools and community clubs become spaces where trust is built, dialogue is encouraged and social cohesion is reinforced.
Peace and Sport’s experience demonstrates that grassroots programmes are not separate from sport diplomacy, they are one of its foundations. The diplomatic potential of sport is not only expressed on the international stage, it is developed every day through communities, educators and local actors using sport to bring people together.
Reinforcing human capability: turning athletes’ influence into lasting impact
The White Paper also highlights that translating sport diplomacy into practice depends on the people and institutions responsible for delivering it. Athletes, coaches, officials and sport leaders increasingly operate at the intersection of sport, diplomacy, culture and public policy, yet many receive little formal preparation for these broader responsibilities.
Reflecting this priority, Peace and Sport contributed a dedicated spotlight on the role of athletes, highlighting how their credibility, visibility and lived experience enable them to build trust and foster dialogue across diverse audiences. Realising this potential, however, requires more than goodwill. It depends on structured mentoring, opportunities for engagement and partnerships that enable athletes to leverage their potential into lasting social impact.
Through initiatives such as the Champions for Peace Club, Peace and Sport has demonstrated how athletes can move beyond the traditional role of sporting representatives to become active contributors to peacebuilding, inclusion and social change.
Building the legacy together
The Sport Diplomacy White Paper represents a collective effort to advance understanding of how sport can support peace, cooperation and sustainable development. Its publication marks not an endpoint, but the beginning of a longer process of implementation.
Peace and Sport will continue working alongside UNITAR and partners across the world to help translate this framework into concrete initiatives. Drawing on its experience in community peacebuilding and athlete engagement, the Organisation remains committed to ensuring that grassroots practice continues to inform policies, partnerships and programmes that strengthen sport’s contribution to peace.
Because the legacy of sport is not only defined by what happens during the game. It is equally defined by what happens before and afterwards: in communities, through relationships, and in the lasting connections that sport can help create.
