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Eastpointe business owner billed $776 for police response after crash
A business owner says she was shocked to receive a $776.49 bill from the Eastpointe Police Department for emergency response services following a crash in May that police say she was at fault for.
LeBron James Credits Jay-Z For Teaching Him How To Move In The Business World, Now They Are Both Billionaires
Jay-Z helped LeBron James succeed in the business world.
Sports and politics: No longer strange bedfellows
Sports has always billed itself as above petty indifferences, something that brings people together on the sanctity of the playing field. FIFA, the guardian of the soccer World Cup pledges to ensure accessibility to everyone, promising that each athlete will receive a reception that is “safe, welc...
Exclusive: Twin sisters built GlossGenius into the latest female-founded unicorn. Now they’re debuting AI for small businesses far beyond beauty
GlossGenius just raised $44 million at a $1.15 billion valuation as it rebrands as Genius AI, moving beyond the beauty industry.
Bills open practice tickets sell out Tuesday in less than 20 minutes
The special practice is a chance for non-season ticket holders to get into the new Highmark Stadium for the first time.
US Health Secretary Kennedy says CMS is pausing Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota
The Trump administration is pausing over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota "because of suspected fraud and noncompliance," U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said on Tuesday.
US Health Secretary Kennedy Says CMS Is Pausing Medicaid Payments to California and Minnesota
July 21 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is pausing over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota "because of suspected fraud and noncompliance," U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said on Tuesday. "If those states want that money they need to ...
Private investment in youth sports draws state, federal scrutiny
US Sen. Chris Murphy and US Rep. Chris Deluzio cosponsored a bill banning predatory private equity investment in youth sports.
Amazon Business Reaches $60 Billion in Annualized Gross Sales, Serving Over 11 Million Organizations Worldwide
Organizations of all sizes turning to Amazon Business for its AI-powered tools, business-relevant selection, everyday low prices, delivery fleets purpose-built for businesses, and expanded Prime Business membership benefits More than 1.8 million new organizations joined Amazon Business so far this year Last year, Amazon Business-specific discounts saved organizations more than $1 billion worldwide, while Prime Business members saved more than $880 million in shipping fees globally last year Amazon Business selection up nearly 30% globally this year, with expansion in categories like repair tools, fresh groceries, and office furniture
Lilly’s $2.8 Billion Bet on Psychedelics Buys Science That Conventional Trial Infrastructure May Not Be Able to Run
Eli Lilly acquires AtaiBeckley for $2.8B, but the FDA's final psychedelic trial guidance reveals an operational crisis Big Pharma hasn't priced in.
36 Prominent Playwrights Will Take on Present Politics in Women+ on the Edge of Democracy
The initiative has commissioned 36 10-minute plays and monologues in response to the current political climate.
Politics & Power: President Trump’s White House windfall of $2.2B and the ethics questions that follow
Matt Corrigan, a political analyst from Jacksonville University, joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on this week’s Politics & Power to discuss the ethics questions raised about policy and profit colliding after President Donald Trump’s $2.2 billion financial disclosures.
Is AMC Entertainment’s (AMC) Record Revenue Proof That the Theater Recovery Is Finally Real?
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC) jumped 16% in premarket trading on Monday after reporting record second-quarter revenue and a surprise adjusted profit. Revenue reached $1.60 billion, compared with the $1.47 billion expected by analysts, while adjusted earnings came in at 14 cents per share instead of the expected 6-cent loss. The quarter provides the strongest […]
NASA’s nuclear Mars mission to cost over $2 billion
The price tag doesn't include the cost of the science mission the new spacecraft would ferry to the Red Planet.
Tesla investors want answers about a potential merger with SpaceX
Tesla investors are responding to rampant speculation about a mega-merger with SpaceX, which raised $86 billion in a blockbuster IPO last month.
Americana Partners Launches Sports & Entertainment Division
HOUSTON, July 21, 2026--Houston-based Americana Partners, an independent wealth management firm with over $11.5* billion in total client assets, today announced a new division focused on the sports and entertainment industries, tapping Associate Vice President Ben Davidson to lead the wealth management venture.
Americana Partners Launches Sports & Entertainment Division
HOUSTON, July 21, 2026--Houston-based Americana Partners, an independent wealth management firm with over $11.5* billion in total client assets, today announced a new division focused on the sports and entertainment industries, tapping Associate Vice President Ben Davidson to lead the wealth management venture.
Michigan extends key tax breaks for billions of dollars of real estate development in Detroit
Real estate developers are breathing a sigh of relief now that state lawmakers have agreed to an extension of two key property tax abatements used for projects around Michigan.
New Super PAC with ties to Boston Mayor Wu draws rebuke from the senator she’s trying to defeat
A new Super PAC that appears to be aligned with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has emerged ahead of the state primary, where two Wu-backed challengers are vying to expel the two senators Wu blames for killing her tax bill.
Bills’ ‘Nightmare’ Scenario Revealed That Could Derail Josh Allen’s Season
The Buffalo Bills made a big decision this offseason when they parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott and promoted Joe Brady to the new role.Buffalo struggled to reach the Super Bowl over the last six seasons, so it needed to take action to give the Bills and their fans a boost, which meant parting […] The post Bills’ ‘Nightmare’ Scenario Revealed That Could Derail Josh Allen’s Season appeared first on HEAVY.
The 80/20 Institute CEO Bill Canady Releases The Rule of Three, Introducing a Leadership Framework for High-Performing Companies
Lakewood Ranch, FL, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 80/20 Institute today announced the release of The Rule of Three: How Visionaries, Ope...
Bill Gates heads to Africa's cleanest country to learn about its health success story and discuss its $50 million plan
One of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, is heading to Rwanda to get a glimpse of the progress the Eastern African country has made regarding its health sector
Johnson's strategy to bypass Democrats' SAVE Act blockade survives key vote, handing GOP big win
Speaker Johnson's plan to put key SAVE America Act provisions into a budget reconciliation bill cleared the House Rules Committee on Monday.
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer bans private equity purchases of hospitals, signs bills to improve health care access, affordabilit
Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend says his legislation phases in price caps on hospitals and strengthens primary care access.
Proposed changes to Protect College Sports Act would allow conference expansion -- with a catch
As negotiations on the college sports bill intensify ahead of a possible floor vote on the Senate floor later this month, sources tell CBS Sports that Power Four leagues would still have a pathway to expand
House Momentum, Senate Headwinds, and the Return of Shutdown Politics
With the House finally beginning to break its floor paralysis, appropriations may be back in motion. However, the path to funding the government for FY27, and keeping the lights on past September 30, remains complex. Last week, the House passed the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill, which included a closely watched vote on Rep. Thomas Massie's amendment targeting aid to Israel.
What does new Seahawks owner say he stands for?
Vinod Khosla's family is leading a group that has agreed to purchase the Seahawks. Here's what the billionaire venture capitalist has said about President Trump and other politicians.
Trump intervenes as House GOP revolt puts SAVE America Act at center of spending showdown
Trump urges House Republicans to unify behind the budget reconciliation bill, but some fiscal hawks balk at $95 billion in new spending with no payfors.
AMC Entertainment (AMC) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
Shares of theater company AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) jumped 17.3% in the morning session after the company reported impressive Q2 2026 earnings results with revenue and Adjusted EBITDA crushing expectations.The cinema chain delivered a blowout second quarter, posting total revenues of $1.60 billion—representing 14.2% year-over-year growth and easily surpassing analyst estimates of $1.47 billion. Profitability metrics were particularly strong, with Adjusted EBITDA soaring to $321.4 million comp
Mark Walter’s insurers, Guggenheim probed by prosecutors
Last year, federal prosecutors began examining Guggenheim’s $362 billion money management arm.
Bipartisan Bill Pushes $25M 4D Software for Veterans' Respiratory Health
Lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan bill to invest VA funds into diagnostic scanning software that could detect asthma or lung conditions.
Sankey: SEC breakaway talk over college bill 'honest conversations'
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he continues to have conversations with Congressional leaders about the Protect College Sports Act but stopped short of saying whether all their suggested changes need to be implemented for the conference to support it.
Bills OL Alec Anderson joins 'GMFB' to discuss Joe Brady as HC and importance of mental health
Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Alec Anderson wakes up with "GMFB" to discuss new head coach Joe Brady and why mental health awareness is important in the NFL.
Most Americans support conservation – here’s how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative got politicians from both parties on board too
An analysis of one major effort shows how to get Democrats and Republicans to agree to spend billions of dollars on a decades-long environmental restoration project.
ESPN fantasy experts are low on Bills WRs in 2026
The Buffalo Bills have again made key moves to improve production within their wide receivers room.
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) Reports Upbeat Q2 CY2026, Stock Jumps 15.2%
Theater company AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) reported Q2 CY2026 results exceeding the market’s revenue expectations, with sales up 14.2% year on year to $1.60 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.14 per share was significantly above analysts’ consensus estimates.
This $46 Million Toilet Startup Is Betting Smart Seats Can Be A Billion-Dollar Business
Medical tech company Casana raised $46 million to launch a toilet seat that monitors your health. Their goal? Make sittables the next wearables.
Bipartisan bill would invest $25M to bolster use of key medical imaging software
The AIR CARE for Vets Act would establish a new five-year pilot program, utilizing 4D imaging software to assess the lungs of vets impacted by burn pits.
TSMC's U.S. investment is about politics, not business: Analyst
Kirk Yang, founder and chairman of Kirkland Capital, discusses TSMC's $265 billion investment into the United States.
TSMC's U.S. investment is about politics, not business: Analyst
Kirk Yang, founder and chairman of Kirkland Capital, discusses TSMC's $265 billion investment into the United States.
Exclusive | Buyout Firm Truelink Nears $1 Billion Deal for Coffee Syrup Maker
Lyons Magnus specializes in fruit-based ingredients and beverages, from flavored syrups for coffee drinks to fruit purees for smoothies.
Kentucky Newsmakers 7/19: Ky. Cabinet for Health & Family Services Sec. Dr. Steven Stack; state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe
On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Sec. Dr. Steven Stack and state Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe.
Broncos Worth Likely To Soar After Seahawks Sale
The Denver Broncos value will grow quite a bit based on the Seattle Seahawks selling for $9.6 billion.
Boeing on track for 2028 Air Force One delivery, costs rise
Boeing said on Sunday it remains on track to deliver two new Air Force One jets in 2028, but meeting that target will require additional spending on a program already years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.
Dodgers Swap Starting Pitchers for Yankees Doubleheader
Yoshinobu Yamamoto anchors a high-stakes twin bill as the Los Angeles Dodgers face New York Yankees' All-Star Cam Schlittler in a potential World Series preview.
'It's absolutely exciting!': Astronomers discover an atmosphere around an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone for first time ever
Astronomers have detected helium escaping from the super-Earth LHS 1140 b, providing the strongest evidence yet that a rocky planet in another star's habitable zone has retained an atmosphere for billions of years.
Small Business Technology News Roundup: IBM Shares Crash, ChatGPT To Replace Wall Street Analysts
IBM shares collapse, OpenAI says AI will replace workers, Upwork says AI is reshaping freelancing, Microsoft will let you pause Windows 11 updates, Expensify consolidates travel billing
Beyond rockets and satellites, SpaceX is quietly building an AI compute business that may become key to its eye-popping valuation
Deals with Google and Anthropic to rent out computing capacity could generate $26 billion a year.
Google and Apple are clashing with the EU over the future of AI assistants
Google and Apple have a big leg up in the AI race: their control of billions of smartphones around the world.
James Webb telescope uses trippy Einstein prediction to probe the farthest reaches of the universe — Space photo of the week
The James Webb telescope peers through a warped bubble of space-time to study galaxies from the first billion years after the Big Bang.
‘Our last hope’: Federal bill hopes to stabilize college sports — if it can survive opposition
Denny Sanford, philanthropist who gave nearly $2 billion to Sanford Health, dies at 90
Thomas “Denny” Sanford, the Sioux Falls philanthropist whose generosity transformed a regional hospital system into one of the largest rural health networks in the country, died Saturday.
Bill Montevecchi, seabird ornithologist and science communicator
The North Atlantic can look empty until someone begins paying attention. A stretch of gray water off Newfoundland may appear to hold little more than waves and scattered birds. To Bill Montevecchi, those birds were evidence. Their breeding success, feeding trips, and changing numbers revealed what was happening beneath the surface, offering clues about fish [Continue reading]
Josh Allen Wants To Be An Olympian In 2028
The Buffalo Bills quarterback eyes a 2028 gold medal as flag football joins the Los Angeles Games, fulfilling a lifelong dream of representing his country on stage.
It's Abdul El Sayed vs. billionaires, Bernie Sanders says in Detroit
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders visited Michigan to stump for progressive candidates July 18.
Bernie Sanders dismisses Haley Stevens, says Michigan race is against the 'billionaire class'
Sen. Bernie Sanders says Michigan's Democratic Senate primary isn't about Rep. Haley Stevens but whether the billionaire class can stop El-Sayed.
Bill Maher defends disgraced comedian Louis C.K. for doing enough 'show business jail' time
Josh Allen’s Bills facing ‘formality’ regular season, says Tim Hasselbeck
The Buffalo Bills enter the 2026 NFL season with championship expectations, but ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck believes that creates a unique challenge. Speaking on NFL on ESPN, he said the regular season has almost become secondary for Josh Allen‘s team.…
Denny Sanford leaves legacy in healthcare and beyond
Philanthropist, businessman, and Sanford Health namesake T. Denny Sanford has died age 90. He donated nearly $2 billion to Sanford Health.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on two sports businesses his multi-billion-dollar conglomerate won't enter
Fanatics has become one of the most influential companies in sports, building out a massive merchandise, collectibles and sports gambling platform.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on two sports businesses his multi-billion-dollar conglomerate won't enter
Fanatics has become one of the most influential companies in sports, building out a massive merchandise, collectibles and sports gambling platform.
Tom Cruise Reveals Surprising New Look In Trailer For Movie About An Eccentric Billionaire
Check out the movie star’s wild new role in the upcoming black comedy starring Jesse Plemons and Riz Ahmed.
4 Georgians named in record $6.5B health care fraud takedown
Four Georgians were named in a nationwide health care fraud crackdown involving alleged schemes totaling $6.5 billion.
Belichick Sees North Carolina Turnaround as Night and Day
Bill Belichick calls the North Carolina football turnaround a night and day difference after the 2025 disaster. Fans see real hope now.
Anaheim’s 100-acre, $5 billion entertainment district reveals first 6 kitchen concepts for its massive new food hall opening in early 2027
The two-story Katella Commons will eventually house 21 kitchens, bringing Michelin-recognized chefs to the Honda Center plaza.
Bill Belichick's 1st college team struggled at UNC. He's hoping for more success
“Last year when we started, we were literally starting from scratch," the Super Bowl-winning coach said. “We're above that now for sure.”
Bill Barnwell Makes Bold Claims on Minnesota Vikings Roster
From Justin Jefferson's staggering trade value to surprise inclusions like Donovan Jackson, discover why three cornerstone stars could command an unprecedented haul of future first-round draft picks.
Leon Black walked out of an Epstein House committee interview. Here’s what we know
Billionaire investor Leon Black, who for years paid Jeffrey Epstein for tax and financial advice, is facing scrutiny over his relationship with the late convicted sex offender after walking out of a closed-door interview with House investigators last month.
UT Health San Antonio’s $1 billion multiyear investment helps meet demand for care
Healthcare is a strong economic driver in San Antonio, generating more than $43 billion annually and supporting nearly 200,000 jobs across the region, according to the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. As the region's academic health center, UT Health San Antonio contributes approximately $3.2 billion annually through patient care, research, education and workforce development.
Paying for early access to Trump’s Truth Social could raise big money
In yet another unprecedented move by America's first billionaire president, Donald Trump may soon be profiting from a new line of business tied to his office: charging access for a first peek at certain posts on his Truth Social platform.
Paying for Early Access to Trump's Truth Social Could Raise Big Money
NEW YORK (AP) — America’s first billionaire president may soon be profiting from a new line of business tied to his office: charging access for a first peek at certain posts on his Truth Social platform. Donald Trump's struggling media company plans to sell Wall Street traders the chance to see ...
Buffalo Bills Hit With 'Renewed' Pre-Camp Vibe Label
The Buffalo Bills will look new next season.
Fanatics’ Michael Rubin on taking the sports platform to the next level
Michael Rubin has built one of the most influential platforms in sports, evolving Fanatics from a merchandise leader to a multi-pronged, billion-dollar platform. Rubin spoke with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit about the opportunities he sees for Fanatics.
Senator says key piece of college sports legislation 'probably' has 60 votes to clear upper chamber
A lawmaker sponsoring a key piece of federal college sports legislation says he believes the bill likely has the support it needs to make it through the upper chamber
Meet the billionaires behind $336M ‘explosion’ of money in California politics, per new report
San Francisco is no stranger to concentrated wealth shaping City Hall, and big-money spenders did well here during the last primary.
Meet the billionaires behind $336M ‘explosion’ of money in California politics, per new report
San Francisco is no stranger to concentrated wealth shaping City Hall, and big-money spenders did well here during the last primary.
Man with staggering $20 billion net worth put a car order in so big that Mercedes had to shut down its factory
The 'Rainbow Sheikh' has a staggering $20 billion net worth and once put in a car order that was so big, it shut down manufacturing at a Mercedes factory
US oil firms sign deals with Iraq to develop alternative shipping routes
U.S. companies have signed roughly $60 billion in agreements and partnerships with the Iraqi government, including deals intended to create alternative routes for shipping oil out of the Persian Gulf.
Young millionaire reveals the wealth-building lessons he learned from billionaires
The young entrepreneur behind 'School of Hard Knocks' shares his strategy for turning a content creator business into multiple revenue streams.
McMahon calls on Dems to accept veto of term limits bill over 'clerical error'
The Onondaga County executive has been vocally opposed to efforts by the county legislature to pass bills implementing term limits for county offices.
Massive health insurance upheaval leaves New Yorkers with big new bills
Policy changes forced 450,000 people off the low-cost Essential Plan on July 1.
Tyler Robinson's father runs thriving hometown business as taxpayers face possible $10M defense bill: report
Matthew Robinson's masonry business continues operating as Utah taxpayers face a defense bill experts say could exceed $10 million for his son's case.
'Shared cosmic experience': 'Potentially hazardous' asteroid Apophis could be visible to 90% of Earth's population during ultraclose 2029 flyby, new maps reveal
Researchers predict that up to 7.6 billion people will be able to see the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis fly past Earth on April 13, 2029. The skyscraper-size space rock will come closer than some satellites, making it clearly visible to the naked eye.
Massie introduces second Epstein files bill
Last July, Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bipartisan bill to force the Justice Department’s release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Rep. Michael McCaul pushes for Russia sanctions bill to honor Lindsey Graham
The bill would not only impose sanctions on Russia, but secondary sanctions on countries that continue to buy Russian energy.
Congress looks to rewrite college sports bill in high-stakes push to win SEC, Big Ten support before time runs out
Abbott discloses cyberattack on cancer diagnostics business
The cyberattack follows Abbott’s recent $21 billion purchase of Exact Sciences. Abbott did not disclose what kind of information was accessed.
Americana Partners expands into sports and entertainment wealth management
The $11.5 billion Houston-based RIA has tapped a JPMorgan alum and former Division I soccer player to lead the buildout of its specialized services.
Exclusive | Secrets behind Tyler Robinson's lucrative family business revealed — as Utah taxpayers foot $10M legal bills for Charlie Kirk's alleged killer
Science by merit, not political favor
The right to be judged by a jury of your peers is a bedrock of American democracy. This principle applies not only to the judicial system but also to how the federal government evaluates and awards billions of dollars in grants to natural…
Kalshi says it's not a sportsbook even as World Cup bets surge
The betting site Kalshi emerged as a dominant sports betting platform during the World Cup. But the company avoids billions of dollars in taxes by insisting it is not a sports gambling operator.
Trump uses address to the nation to once again raise doubts about past elections
Trump used the remarks to justify his push to pass a strict voter ID bill in Congress.
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
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