Organized by the World Jewish Congress and What Matters as part of the Together Through Sports initiative, in partnership with the UN Office of the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect. The program will feature perspectives from international sport governing bodies, football leadership, the diplomatic community, and senior United Nations representatives, while also highlighting historical examples of the intersection between sport, society, propaganda, identity, and human rights.
Held one day after of the German National Team's FIFA World Cup fixture in New York, this high-level discussion will examine the growing role of sport as a platform for diplomacy, social cohesion, and the elevation of marginalized voices in society. At a time of increasing polarization, extremism, and social fragmentation worldwide, sport remains one of the few global languages capable of transcending political, religious, and cultural divides. From football stadiums to international tournaments, sporting platforms possess a unique ability to bring together governments, communities, civil society, and the public around shared values of respect, inclusion, and human dignity. Convened for the New York-based diplomatic community at the United Nations, the event will explore how sport can serve not only as entertainment, but as a meaningful tool of modern diplomacy — capable of combating hatred, fostering dialogue, strengthening social resilience, and amplifying the experiences of vulnerable and marginalized communities, including Jewish communities confronting rising antisemitism globally. The discussion forms part of the ongoing Together Through Sports initiative led by the World Jewish Congress and What Matters, which seeks to engage major sporting institutions, clubs, leagues, federations, and international stakeholders in efforts to address antisemitism, extremism, historical memory, and social responsibility through sport.
