Focus on sports diplomacy Sports diplomacy News Published on : July 08th 2026 The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the summer period with its major sporting competitions is the ideal time to recall the role of sports in France’s foreign policy. Over the past decade, France has developed genuine sports diplomacy. In France, it can be seen through the competitions we are hosting for the first time, such as the Esports World Cup, but also the 2026 Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup in Paris in July (an event bringing together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities), as well as a regular season NFL game in France in October. It is also active internationally, with French companies, associations and citizens helping to organize the biggest sporting events, such as the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, to serve our shared interests. What is sports diplomacy? Sports diplomacy involves using sports not only as a central tool in French cooperation with partner countries, but also as a tool of national... Photo: Archives/MEAE