New York, United Nations Headquarters – June 2026
Peace and Sport participated in the World Cup Diplomacy Summit 2026, organised by UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Summit brought together representatives from governments, international organisations, sports governing bodies, academia, civil society and the private sector to contribute to a White Paper on Sport Diplomacy and the Legacy of Major Sporting Events. Peace and Sport was represented by Ludovic Dau, Director of Impact & Sport Diplomacy, and Ernesto Lucena, Peace and Sport Representative in LATAM and former Minister of Sport of Colombia.
Advocating for a new vision of legacy
Throughout the discussions, Peace and Sport promoted a central idea : the success of major sporting events should not only be measured by economic indicators, infrastructure development or media exposure, but also by their ability to generate long-term social impact within communities.
In his contribution to the Summit, Ernesto Lucena highlighted one of the major challenges facing the sport-for-development sector today : while major sporting events generate significant economic, diplomatic and reputational value, grassroots sport initiatives often struggle to access the resources needed to sustain their impact. He called for stronger investment in community sport programmes and explored how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, could help measure impact, connect funders with credible projects and strengthen evidence-based investment in sport for development and peace.
Grassroots sport diplomacy: building Peace from the ground up
During the session “Beyond the Stadium: Urban Development and Community Sport for Development”, moderated by Ludovic Dau, participants explored how sport can foster social cohesion, strengthen community resilience and contribute to peaceful coexistence.
The discussion gathered representatives from the United Nations, UNHCR, the International Canoe Federation, the International Boxing Association, New Balance, World Boston, and VSI Executive Education, reflecting the growing recognition that sustainable impact requires collaboration across sectors.
Peace and Sport’s contribution to the White Paper focused on two strategic themes:
- Building a Culture of Peace at Community Level
Drawing on lessons from the forthcoming publication Peacemakers – Five Years Building Peace through Sport by Peace and Sport, the organisation highlighted the importance of long-term, locally driven programmes that use sport as an educational tool to foster inclusion, citizenship and social cohesion. Examples from Colombia, India and Togo demonstrated how sport can help reduce violence, empower women and girls, strengthen trust and create opportunities for vulnerable communities when embedded within broader educational and social strategies.
- Advancing Grassroots Sport Diplomacy
Peace and Sport also emphasised the role of grassroots sport diplomacy in creating spaces for dialogue and trust-building in divided societies. Case studies presented during the Summit included the Friendly Football Day in Cyprus, which brought together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities through football, as well as initiatives in the African Great Lakes region and Jordan’s Zaatari Refugee Camp. These experiences illustrate how sport can facilitate human connection, challenge stereotypes and create the conditions for coexistence, often before formal political dialogue becomes possible.
Looking ahead
The recommendations emerging from the World Cup Diplomacy Summit will contribute to a White Paper scheduled for publication in the coming weeks. Peace and Sport will continue working alongside UNITAR and international partners to advance a shared vision : one where sport is recognised not only as a platform for competition and entertainment, but as a strategic tool for peacebuilding, diplomacy, education and sustainable development.
As Didier Drogba, Vice-President of Peace and Sport, reminded participants during the Summit :
“Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is the creation of dialogue, respect, coexistence and human connection. Sport has a unique ability to help build that culture of peace.”
