The Power of Sport to Build Bridges Ahead of 2026 World Cup

On 6 April 2026, the United Nations marked the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with an event titled Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers held at UN Headquarters. The event brought together elite athletes and sports administrators to discuss the capacity of international sports, specifically football, to drive social change and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The discussions occurred as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from 11 June to 19 July. The tournament will be hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, featuring 104 games played by 48 national teams. The final match is set to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Community Impact and the Play Collective

A central component of the tournament’s social outreach is the Play Collective, a program operating in the host city regions across the three host countries. This initiative provides funding and support to community sport organizations to establish safe spaces for underserved youth.

The Play Collective is a joint project involving the Adidas Foundation, the Beyond Sport foundation, and Common Goal. Common Goal is a global non-profit organization that maintains a network of community-based organizations serving 3.6 million youth annually. During the UN event on 6 April 2026, Mary Connor, the Executive Director of Common Goal, served as one of the key speakers alongside Nawal El Moutawakal.

FIFA’s Stance on Peace and Geopolitics

The role of the World Cup in promoting global unity has been a primary focus for FIFA leadership. During an online FIFA Council meeting held on 19 March 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the organization’s commitment to peace amid ongoing geopolitical turmoil.

FIFA can’t solve geopolitical conflicts, but we are committed to using the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to build bridges and promote peace as our thoughts are with those who are suffering as a consequence of the ongoing wars

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

President Infantino emphasized that the tournament should proceed as scheduled and called for all participating teams to compete with mutual respect and fair play. This commitment to inclusion extends to nations facing diplomatic conflict; Infantino has stated that Iran will be at the World Cup despite its war with the United States.

Financial Investments in Global Development

The FIFA Council has linked the social goals of the sport to significant financial investments. The council unanimously approved the Annual Report 2025, which includes a revenue budget of 14 billion USD foreseen for the 2027-2030 cycle.

As part of these development efforts, the FIFA Forward investment is expected to reach 2.7 billion USD. This figure represents an eightfold increase compared to the period prior to 2016, with the funds intended to be reinvested into the game and the promotion of football worldwide.

The overarching objective of these initiatives, as highlighted by both the UN and FIFA, is to utilize the global reach of the World Cup to connect communities across borders and generations, creating opportunities for solidarity and dialogue.