World Cup Kicks Off A Pivotal Decade Of World Championships In U.S.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup turned out to be one memorable event, but it was hardly a stand-alone global extravaganza. As it turns out, the quadrennial tournament is positioned to kick off a pivotal decade of international sporting championships in the United States, says strategic advisor and Harvard Fellow Samuel Hymes. faces an unprecedented opportunity, and if the powers that be do the right things, mostly off the playing field, it could go a long way in helping what he calls sports diplomacy.

"The recently introduced American Decade of Sports Act reflects a growing recognition that these events should not be treated as isolated spectacles, but as part of a longer national strategy," Hymes said recently, which he also wrote in a paper looking at the future. Over the next eight years, the U.