With 211 member associations—more than the United Nations' 193 member states—FIFA represents a platform where nations that struggle to find common ground in diplomatic halls meet as equals on the pitch . As FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted at a recent UN event, "We spend a lot of time talking about what divides us, but we realized that, when you bring a group of people together, there are far more things that unite them than separate them" .
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is the clearest evidence yet of this multilateral potential. For the first time in history, three nations are jointly hosting the tournament which demands unprecedented cooperation across borders, cultures, and bureaucracies .
The three host countries have established "Sherpas"—senior officials tasked with coordinating everything from security and logistics to infrastructure and social development initiatives . This is not merely administrative coordination; it is diplomatic practice in action. The commitment to ensuring the tournament "benefits communities far beyond the event itself through investments in grassroots football, infrastructure, and social development initiatives" reflects a shared vision that transcends national self-interest .
The United Nations has long recognized sport as "a powerful vehicle to advance peace, tolerance, and understanding" . The connections between the World Cup and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals run deep. The tournament touches multiple SDGs: promoting reduced inequalities (SDG 10) by bringing together players from every economic background; advancing sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) through infrastructure investment; and strengthening partnerships for the goals (SDG 17) through international cooperation .
Yet the World Cup as a multilateral tool is not without its contradictions.
The 2026 World Cup faces its own challenges such as trade tensions between the three hosts, Visa restrictions affecting supporters from African and Middle Eastern nations have raised concerns about exclusion rather than inclusion but as one expert observes, it has more teams than ever participating.
These tensions highlight a fundamental truth: multilateralism through sport is fragile. FIFA's founding ideal—that nations can compete fiercely and then shake hands—is itself a model of peaceful coexistence, but one constantly tested by real-world geopolitics .
Despite these challenges, the World Cup remains a uniquely powerful platform for international dialogue.
The tournament brings together nations that may share little beyond a love of the game. For ninety minutes, rivals become neighbors . And in a world where multilateral institutions are struggling to maintain relevance, that is no small achievement.
As the 2026 World Cup unfolds across North America, it offers a powerful reminder: even when diplomacy fails, the pitch remains a place where the world can still come together. Whether that unity can translate beyond the final whistle is the question that will define the tournament's true legacy.
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