UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
28 May 2026, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) will convene the World Cup Diplomacy Summit 2026 – A Global Dialogue on 4–5 June 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Bringing together senior policymakers, diplomats, sports stakeholders, private sector leaders, academics and experts, the Summit will explore the role of sport as a catalyst for diplomacy, sustainable development and international cooperation in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Convened in alignment with the United Nations agenda on Sport for Development and Peace, the Summit will provide a platform for high-level dialogue on the diplomatic, social, technological and economic dimensions of mega sporting events. Discussions will focus on how football and sport can contribute to peacebuilding, inclusive growth, innovation and global collaboration.
Key themes and discussions
The programme will feature plenary discussions, keynote interventions and interactive working groups addressing key themes including:
- Football and global diplomacy;
- Sustainable infrastructure and community legacy;
- Artificial intelligence and fan engagement in sport; and
- Governance, partnerships and innovation across the sports sector.
The Summit will also support the collaborative development of a Sport Diplomacy White Paper endorsed by UNITAR and participating stakeholders, aimed at capturing key insights, policy recommendations and shared commitments emerging from the discussions.
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
The event is being coordinated in collaboration with VSI Executive Education, UREKA Education Group and Shoosmiths, and is expected to foster long-term multi-stakeholder partnerships advancing sustainable development through sport.
For more information
For further information, please contact: diplomacy@unitar.org