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Like many soccer fans, I can vividly recall World Cups of my youth: the exuberant street parties when co-host South Korea made the semifinals in 2002, the noisy but infectious vuvuzelas when South Africa hosted in 2010.
The World Cup is a time of celebration – both on the soccer pitch, and away from it. The hosts revel in the global spotlight and a spirit of togetherness. Aside from the Olympics, there’s no bigger sporting event to showcase one’s country, culture and position in the world.
As Caitlin Byrne, an expert in soft power, explains, this is all part of what’s known as sport diplomacy, or in this case "football diplomacy".
With the World Cup kicking off this weekend, there’s no doubt the United States could use this kind of soft power boost. But Donald Trump looks more interested in making this event about spectacle, exclusion and vested interests, Byrne writes.
By blocking referees, team members and fans from participating, Trump is doing the opposite. And a golden opportunity for sports diplomacy will likely be missed.
P.S. Thanks to the thousands of readers who have made a donation to help keep The Conversation going. If you’d like to join them, please make a donation here.
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Justin Bergman
International Affairs Editor
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Caitlin Byrne, Griffith University
There’s a crucial difference between soft power and spectacle. Early signs indicate the World Cup will offer more of the latter for Trump’s America.
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