Public–Private Leadership in Global Sport: Shaping FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Road to LA28

At a time of increasing geopolitical competition and economic uncertainty, major sporting events remain among the few global platforms capable of bringing together governments, businesses, and citizens across borders. The FIFA World Cup 2026 and the LA28 Olympic Games present a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, foster people-to-people connections, advance economic partnerships, and showcase innovative approaches to sustainable development. These events serve as powerful instruments of sports diplomacy, enabling countries to build trust, project soft power, promote cultural exchange, and deepen collaboration on shared challenges. By exploring the intersection of sport, business, and public policy, this event will highlight how strategic public-private leadership can create lasting benefits that extend well beyond the playing field and contribute to stronger international relationships in an increasingly interconnected world. Welcoming leaders from LA28, the Wilson Center, and the US State Department, this conversation will highlight the distinctive importance of these global multi-sector relationships that are brought together at these global sporting events.