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How Caleb Williams' inner circle features Chicago star power
Bears QB Caleb Williams is part of a trio of young Chicago athletes whose friendship transcends sports.
Rob Reiner almost helped Larry David with his unproduced screenplay but made this movie instead
The comedians had a decades-long friendship, which also helped Cheryl Hines lock in an Emmy-nominated role.
Pens Points: Korczak embracing fresh start with Penguins
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning… Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang recently marked 20 years since they first played together on Oct. 18, 2006. Twenty years later, the partnership—and friendships—still endure. [Post-Gazette] Defenseman Kaedan Korczak is embracing a fresh start in Pittsburgh after spending the first several years of his […]
I was annoyed at my noisy neighbor. I found out she had Parkinson's.
I was annoyed by my noisy upstairs neighbor until I learned she had Parkinson's. Helping her led to an unexpected friendship.
Filippo Alongi: Science, Collaboration, and Friendship Beyond Borders at KOSRO 2026
Filippo Alongi: Science, Collaboration, and Friendship Beyond Borders at KOSRO 2026 / cancer, Filippo Alongi, KOSRO 2026, OncoDaily, Oncology, radiation
Kid Rock talks political controversy, AI music, new haircut and more
On the eve of his Christian album, Kid Rock addresses his remarks about Islam, celebrates his friendship with Pope Leo's brother, and more.
Enduring friendship started at Miami for prominent political figures Ryan, Razdan Duggal
Alumni returned to Oxford to take part in JANUS Forum discussion
Intramural sports allow students to build an active community
Intramural sports at ECU provide students with opportunities to stay active, build friendships and connect with the campus community.
Cancer survivor has devastating health news. Her friend didn’t respond for 3 days.
Over their 20-year friendship, she’s always responded to her friend’s needs quickly. Why can’t she expect the same?
Love, grief, family and friendship in 'Love of Your Life'
The film is now playing in select theaters and will begin streaming on Prime Video on Oct. 14.
Nicolas Cage reveals lingering regret over Sean Connery friendship
The Oscar winner admitted he still kicks himself over something he said to his late co-star.
Ancient Greeks Turned Friendship Into a Science
The Ancient Greeks believed friendship was far more serious than a few hours of chatting and banter with your best friends.
Paraguay will not renounce friendship with Israel despite political costs, VP tells 'Post'
DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS: In an exclusive interview, Paraguay's vice president pledged to preserve his country's alliance with Israel, and expand cooperation against Iranian threats.
Duo Westerlund-Hagen Tune Instruments Of War To Homage To Friendship
Catamount Arts is supporting Vermont State University’s presentation of drum-and-trumpet duo Westerlund-Hagen, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Alexander Twilight Theatre on the Lyndon campus.
Eminem and Kid Rock Prioritize Friendship Over Politics on New Collab Track
The longtime friends have teamed up for a new track set to appear on Kid Rock's 13th studio album, 'Halfway to Jesus.'
Chimpanzees steal less pineapple from their friends
The new research sheds more light on the evolutionary origins of friendship.
Kid Rock Wants to Show Friendship Triumphs Over Politics With New Eminem Collaboration
On his new Christian rock album Halfway to Jesus, Kid Rock wanted to show friendship exists beyond politics with his collaboration with Eminem.
Artists remember veteran concert producer Susan Lim and her decades in entertainment
Photo from Facebook/@susan.o.lim Artists and colleagues are remembering veteran concert producer Susan Lim for a career that spanned Philippine productions and overseas tours for Filipino performers. Lim died Sept. 14. Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera and Roderick Paulate were among those who later shared public tributes, recalling both her work in entertainment and their longtime friendships with her. Lim had been active in…
Eminem and Kid Rock Prioritize Friendship Over Politics on New Track: 'We Hope That Sets an Example'
Eminem and Kid Rock have teamed up on a new track that they hope will set a good example for friends with differing politi...
How political rivalry became lifetime Rantzen friendship
An MP recalls how he and the late, veteran broadcaster stood against each other in a general election.
Looking at the Ugly Side of the Paramount-Skydance Merger...And How I’d Fix It
A Message from Our Sponsor Certified Fresh with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, FX’s Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Don’t sleep on “The Sitcom of the Moment” - Awards Buzz All Episodes now streaming on Hulu on Disney+. Watch The Teaser Trailer... (Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industr(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Before we dive in, I wanted to congratulate Broadcast Now for being the first to report that Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast has been cancelled. (I saw this in a write-up by Kasey Moore of Whats-On-Netflix.) More importantly, I wanted to note that, as of yesterday, none of the other trades had reported the news yet. I have half a guess that eventually one of them will report this. Anyways, it’s time to take a break from my deluge of streaming ratings reports to continue my analysis of the Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery (PSWbD) saga. As I noted last week, a lot of times when folks use the (sometimes cliched) “the good, the bad and the ugly” framing for an article, “the ugly” section is just more bad. Or very, very bad. In this case, yeah, I do think it’s ugly. In more than one way. Unfortunately, we’re only going to have time to tackle one of those ways today: the ugly pile of debt to finance this deal. (In a future article, I may cover the entire process for how it went down, which was very, very ugly.) Last issue, I explained why I liked this deal in a vacuum. Unfortunately, “vacuums” don’t exist outside of space. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - The Ugliness of the Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger More than one person sent me a note speculating that the big problem with Paramount Skydance buying Warner Bros. Discovery is the “Warner Bros.” portion of the deal. In fact, that’s a take I read a lot about Warner Bros., ever since they caught Netflix’s, and then Paramount-Skydance’s, eye. In short, multiple companies (Time, AOL, AT&T, Discovery) have bought and then regretted buying Warner Bros. Since it’s nearing Halloween, you could almost say it’s like the folks think WB is cursed! It’s a haunted studio—like the town of Derry in movie studio form—and whoever takes possession of it will fall into misery! Yet...I just don’t like that story, because it doesn’t explain the “why” behind why those deals fell through. Especially when Warner Bros. has continued to succeed as a TV and film studio in the intervening two decades. Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter? Game of Thrones? Everything HBO? Considering it never fully owned a broadcast TV channel, this media company has done pretty well. So what went wrong? Well, in recent years, companies bought Warner Bros. instead of the other, smarter option. Explaining POCD (And Applying It to Mergers & Acquisitions) As I explained last issue, one of my favorite frameworks is the POCD tool for evaluating venture capital investments: People Opportunity Context Deal The bar to invest as a VC is high. (Or I might say “was” since cheap interest rates made life easier last decade.) You review a thousand prospectuses, get pitched by a hundred, and invest in the ten best, with the hopes that one of those ten would pay for the rest. That means every element of a deal needed to pay off: you needed the right people running the companies, who could capitalize on the right opportunity, in the context of an industry that was ripe for disruption. If you could then not overpay, you could make some money in a smart deal. The analogy isn’t perfect here, but close enough. For a merger or acquisition to work, you need the combined company (which is the opportunity) to make more than the price you need to pay (which is the deal). Note: the people and context still matter, but with M&A, it’s a little more straightforward: does the opportunity exceed the cost? And usually with Warner Bros., it hasn’t. If you want to find out the single biggest mistake made by the Warner Bros. suitors over the last few years (and my simple fix) become a paid subscriber. I’ll also touch on who I think Paramount-Skydance could (shockingly) consider buying next, TBD, and more. Sign up here.
How fishing is helping these Georgia men talk about mental health
Atlanta nonprofit Fishing the Good Fight uses fishing, the outdoors and community to help men connect, build friendships and talk openly about mental health.
Dakota Johnson reveals root of Taylor Swift friendship, shares thoughts on Travis Kelce wedding photos
The “Verity” actress doesn’t think her longtime bestie will ever drop the pictures from her nuptials.
Savannah James and April McDaniel on Navigating Money, Friendship, and Business
Savannah James and April McDaniel sit down to discuss money, entrepreneurship, and family, while sharing the lessons that have shaped their approach to success.
How watches sparked a friendship between Raggio, Moppert
What began as a business relationship evolved into unlikely friendship built on entrepreneurship, mutual respect and shared fascination with watches.
How to make – and keep – friends as a grownup, according to science
The query “how to make friends” reached an all-time high last spring and vastly outpaces searches for how to find a date or fall in love. There are steps to take to make new friends as an adult.
Subscribers: Learn the science and practice of friendship
Join the San Francisco Chronicle and Knitted for the Friendship Blueprint, a new online course to help you build new connections or deepen existing ones.
Not Long Ago, Trump Accused China of Election Meddling. Today, ‘Great Friendship.’
President Trump softened much of his stance toward China as he prepared to host its leader. But his disregard of a topic that has consumed him — the 2020 election — was particularly stark.
‘Forgotten Island’ review: A mythical memory worth making
Stunning animations and a stellar cast uplift a DreamWorks film steeped in Filipino mythology that explores the importance of memories and friendship.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Punishes You for Playing Favorites
When the power of friendship ain't gonna cut it
“Rocky IV”’s Dolph Lundgren hints at ups and downs in Sylvester Stallone friendship: ‘Buddies again’
Lundgren broke down their relationship in his “Fights Worth Fighting” memoir.
‘It’s five broken brains’: The Groundlings’ long-running ‘Crazy Uncle Joe Show’ keeps saying 'Yes, and...'
For 25 years, “The Crazy Uncle Joe Show” has brought long-form improv, friendship and plenty of laughs to the L.A. comedy scene.
Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie share rare glimpse at their ‘connection’ and friendship
Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie opened up about their bond, which grew stronger when they worked on ‘Without Blood’ together.
Jaclyn Smith at 80: From 'Charlie's Angels' to building a business empire
Jaclyn Smith reflects on "Charlie's Angels," her business success, lifelong friendship with Farrah Fawcett and more in a new episode of "On the Red Carpet: ICONS."
Jaclyn Smith at 80: From 'Charlie's Angels' to building a business empire
Jaclyn Smith reflects on "Charlie's Angels," her business success, lifelong friendship with Farrah Fawcett and more in a new episode of "On the Red Carpet: ICONS."
Jaclyn Smith at 80: From 'Charlie's Angels' to building a business empire
Jaclyn Smith reflects on "Charlie's Angels," her business success, lifelong friendship with Farrah Fawcett and more in a new episode of "On the Red Carpet: ICONS."
Bald eagles Shadow and Kaydee share sticks and 'beaky kisses'
It's still too early to know if the pair's friendship will blossom into something more.
Kathy Griffin reveals where she stands on Rosie O’Donnell friendship after “Jimmy Kimmel Live ”mix-up (exclusive)
Griffin tells EW where she stands with O’Donnell after she said she wasn’t invited to be a guest on her longtime friend’s four-episode gig on Kimmel’s show.
The science of friendship and loneliness
Assistant professor of psychology Jessica Ayers’s new research challenges assumptions about the kind of friendships we need
Exclusive: Two of gaming’s biggest names are making a big investment in gaming’s future
The first thing to know about the Nova Games Foundation is that it isn’t about The Game Awards. And it’s not about PlayStation. The ambitious new grant program is the brainchild of Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny. Keighley is the host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest and Opening Night Live. Cerny is a game designer of some 45 years and the lead architect for the PlayStation 4 and 5. But this new thing, which they’re revealing through Game File, isn’t about their day jobs. It’s an unaffiliated, standalone philanthropic project. It’s a bet on the artistic future of video games and a way, they tell me, to give back. “I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny recently told me over email. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days,” The Nova Games Foundation is a university-affiliated fellowship program, intended to offer six-figure grants to 20 young game designers each year, potentially for decades to come. It will offer no-strings-attached funding along with mentorship from games industry leaders, a combination intended to aid the development of groundbreaking new games, Cerny and Keighley told me. Nova will begin accepting applications in December, from class of 2026 and 2027 students from 13 affiliated gaming programs at universities in eight countries. The schools working with Nova include the New York University and the University of Southern California in the U.S., along with Abertay University in Scotland, Cnam-Enjmin in France, TH Köln in Germany, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, Cerny and Keighley said. The plan: $100,000 per recipient, with about a quarter of Nova fellows eligible for up to $500,000 more for projects that are shaping up particularly well. Payments will be delivered based on development milestones, and recipients will own their games. Nova will help promote the work, and developers will be free to pursue the publishers and platforms of their choice. Nova can help introduce fellows to publishers, but won’t take a cut. “I’ve always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I’ve never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games,” Keighley told Game File. “I’ve never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. Nova is philanthropy: we aren’t taking equity or looking to recoup the grants. The return we’re hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing. “Mark and I have each made multi-million-dollar donations to establish the foundation, and we intend to keep contributing. We hope others will join us.” Cerny and Keighley have already hired an executive director, John Maconga, and a head of grants, recent Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan, to help launch the effort. They’re working to recruit game industry leaders to join the effort. Keighley says “dozens of leading game directors have already expressed interest in contributing their time.” To name one, they’ve already gotten Josef Fares, lead designer from It Takes Two and Spit Fiction studio Hazelight on board with a donation and pledge to help out. “I’m proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity and hopefully bring their unique visions to life,” Fares told Game File. A plan forged from a friendship Keighley and Cerny have known each other a long time. It’s been so long, Cerny isn’t even sure exactly when they met. “We travel in much the same circles and I’m sure first intersected in the 90s or early 2000s,“ Cerny said. Keighley thinks it might have been during his stint writing a column about the mid-’90s console 3DO for a gaming magazine while Cerny was working on games with Crystal Dynamics or on Way of the Warrior with Naughty Dog. They became genuine friends about a 10 years ago, Keighley said, as they bonded over a shared love of games and a hope to improve the industry. “About a decade ago, we started having dinner a few times a year in LA,” Keighley said. “Just to catch up on life and the industry. Those conversations continued over Zoom during COVID. Nova grew out of that friendship and a question we kept coming back to: ‘What could we do to help the next generation of game directors get started?’” Keighley credits Cerny with the idea to figure out a way to put their money and time back into the industry. At one of those dinners, Keighley proposed the idea of a fellowship program. He’d recalled applying for a Rhodes Scholarship when he was younger. “Spoiler: I didn’t get it,” he said. He’d admired the MacArthur Foundation’s so-called “genius grants.” He liked these kinds of programs that recognized people’s talents and gave them the financial boost and the freedom to realize their potential. With Cerny, he had pondered what a game industry version of that could be. Keighley liked the idea of centering the fellowship on students, drawing inspiration from the accomplishments of Jenova Chen, the USC game design graduate who went on to lead the creation of gently moving, ambitious games such as Flower and Journey. Keighley also thought it could be useful to help promising graduates bridge the transition from student to professional. “Joining an established studio isn’t always possible—especially in today’s market—and even then, it isn’t the right path for everyone,” Keighley said. A fellowship, he realized, could give “graduates the time, resources and guidance to pursue a game of their own and not worry about the commercial viability.” As the idea took shape, Cerny also saw an opportunity to enable more games of a certain type: “The target with the grants is games as an artistic medium,” Cerny told me. “We like to say games with ‘artistic, literary and societal value.’” He added: “I’m a pretty big gamer myself, though I tend to gravitate towards the smaller and more unique or artistic titles, games like Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray or Outer Wilds. I was just playing and Roger on a flight to Japan, and was getting misty eyed to a degree that I was concerned that a flight attendant would ask me if I was OK. “So one fun benefit here is the games that will come out of the Nova Games Foundation – I can’t wait to play them myself.” Cerny believes it will also be useful for Nova fellows to hone their craft and team leadership skills. “We are looking for the next generation of visionaries,” he said. “The trick is that they will also need to have the executive function necessary to drive a small project to completion.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Going big with this Keighley and Cerny may have started Nova and may be the ones primarily backing it right now, but they’re dreaming of something that goes beyond them. “Mark and I may have helped get it started, but one of our measures of success is that Nova grows into something the entire games industry feels a sense of ownership in,” Keighley said. “Our ambition is to build a lasting endowment supported by people and companies across the industry, and an equally broad community of creators willing to give their time and experience to the next generation.” The industry has a lot of knowledge that it can pass to the next generation, Keighley said: “Nova can hopefully become a way to connect that generosity with talented young creators at the moment when it can make the biggest difference.” Cerny, who told me he believes Nova can mature “over the next 10 or 20 years,” sees an opportunity to give generations of game makers momentum. “The industry has changed immeasurably since I started in games in 1982,” he said. “These graduates have talent, training and tools that outclass what we had back in the day by an astonishing amount. But they face a tough road ahead getting traction in the industry, and many could benefit from our support. We want to be there to give it to them.” “There’s a personal side to this, too,” Keighley said. “I don’t have children, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I can do for future generations. Games have been my entire career. I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and helping someone else build a life in this industry feels like a meaningful way to give back.” Cerny’s oeuvre dates back to Marble Madness and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He has stood on stage multiple times to reveal the future of PlayStation hardware. He’s been an executive producer for a string of modern PlayStation classics such as The Last Guardian and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Nevertheless, of Nova, he said, “It’s certainly not like anything I’ve done before.” Nova Foundation applications will be due in December and the first wave of fellows will be announced in March 2027. A full list of participating universities and steps students and recent graduates can take to apply to become a Nova Fellow is forthcoming.
Meghan Markle Has ‘Unfinished Business’ With This UK A-Lister Amid Feud
Meghan Markle is reportedly looking to rebuild one of her most high-profile friendships following her family’s move back to the U.K. According to a new report, the Duchess of Sussex has been quietly r...
Life-lesson from South Milwaukee. Start with friendship.
We don't have to agree on everything to treat one another decently. Before we were divided so quickly, many of us knew how to be friends.
‘Big Bang Theory’ star Simon Helberg reunites with Jim Parsons after revealing he doesn’t talk to cast much
‘The Big Bang Theory’ stars Simon Helberg and Jim Parsons share sweet photo celebrating 20 years of friendship, days after Helberg admitted he doesn’t talk to his former castmates very much.
His shop straddles the US-Canada border. A historic friendship is crumbling on both sides.
Canada said it had been attacked. The U.S. said it had been ripped off for years.
This Overlooked Type of Friendship Promotes Healthy Aging, Expert Says
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a geriatrician reveals how this type of friendship can promote healthy aging, both for younger and older adults.
My Friend Has Big Plans for Our Toddlers. Uh, This Isn’t Happening.
You can't force a friendship!
Brinkley, Guttenberg revel in retro joy of ‘American Summer’
Sweetly nostalgic as it looks back at one teenager’s “best summer ever,” “American Summer” is also a nod to the friendships and romances that unfold as adulthood beckons.
Villa-Chelsea transfer links are about business, not friendship, says Emery
Aston Villa do not share a special relationship with Chelsea despite a number of transfers between the clubs in recent years, manager Unai Emery said on Sunday, describing the deals as purely business transactions.
Illinois schools prepare for mandated student mental health screenings
Back-to-school season can bring excitement over new classrooms, friendships and routines. But for some students, returning to school can also bring anxiety and other mental health challenges.
Jimmy Kimmel’s wife Molly McNearney recalls the moment she knew he wanted ‘to f---‘
Jimmy Kimmel and his wife Molly McNearney opened up about their ‘bad idea’ romance and when they knew their office friendship had turned into something more.
Padres 8, Twins 1: Not out of this world
In the early 90s, I was a freshman at a college in L.A., and I’d struck up a kind of dating / friendship thing with a very out-of-my-league lady; much my superior in looks, decency, and maturity. It wasn’t destined to last and it didn’t. I did spend some time at her parents’ house, in […]
My friend is 21 years younger. She taught me to stop fearing aging
An unexpected intergenerational friendship made me confront my jealousy of youth and realize there was plenty my younger friend admired about my life, too.
When should politics end a friendship, plus how to date in Houston
Welcome to the first edition of “Ask the CM Three,” a new advice column from CultureMap city editor Eric Sandler, home and design contributor Emily Cotton, and me, Brianna McClane. The three of us gathered for happy hour at Anvil to discuss questions submitted by readers, choosing three to tackle in our first column.
5 true stories to savor this summer
Summer is almost over, but there's still time for unforgettable nonfiction about friendship during a record-setting fire season, the role of language in cults and more.
Hayden Panettiere reflected on childhood friendship with Michelle Trachtenberg before her own death
In a 2025 interview with EW, Hayden Panettiere detailed a surprising childhood connection to her ‘Ice Princess’ costar Michelle Trachtenberg: ‘I’m very grateful that I have the memories that I have with her.’
Countdown to Kickoff: Friendship Collegiate
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Each year, Friendship Collegiate is one of the top teams in the District of Columbia. Last year, for the fourth straight season, Friendship posted at least nine wins. After winning the DCSAA title in 2022 and 2023, the Knights fell short in the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. As Friendship […]
Forget about being cool, Whitmer Thomas just wants to make his friends laugh
Comedian Whitmer Thomas’ new special, “The Terminal Crew of Dudes,” trades cool-guy posturing for a heartfelt salute to loyalty, lifelong friendships and the stories that bind them.
How a duck's friendship helped a New York family's golden retriever overcome health issues: "She started smiling again"
Why truckers always seem to be on the phone while they drive on the highway
What's the best way for truckers to maintain friendships while they're isolated in their cabs? For many of them the answer is a very long phone call.
Science Explains Why Working Out with Friends Feels Easier
Your workout buddies change how you experience fatigue—and in the process, your friendships grow stronger.
Through fútbol and friendship, local organization works to support Hispanic men’s mental health
Through a program called Acción, the Family and Intercultural Resource Center is looking to support men’s mental health within Summit County’s Hispanic community, using companionship, group outings and sports, including a recent micro fútbol tournament. ...
How Friendships Can Benefit the Health of Your Mind and Body
Strong friendships have many benefits for the mind and body, including reducing the risk of chronic illness, so board-certified psychiatrist and author Sue Varma stops by TODAY to share her expert tips for making friends. She explains that it can take “50 hours to make a regular, casual friend” and up to “200 hours to make a bestie,” so she recommends showing up to places consistently, making small plans, being vulnerable, and focusing on “being interested versus interesting.”
The Influencer Whose Friendship With Trump Made Her a Sports Star
Emily Austin has leveraged her political connections for special access to cover World Cup games and UFC fights.
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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