New 'Decade of Sports Act' Formalizes US Diplomacy Strategy Around Major Events from 2024 to 2034

The American Decade of Sports Act is essentially the State Department’s new playbook for using major international sporting events—like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics—as a tool for foreign policy. This isn't just about watching the games; it’s about leveraging the massive influx of international attention and visitors between 2024 and 2034 to boost America’s global standing and build diplomatic ties (SEC. 2).

The Strategy: From Soccer Field to Foreign Policy

This legislation mandates the creation of a “Mega-Decade Sports Diplomacy Strategy” led by the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. They must deliver the first five-year plan to Congress within 120 days of the law passing. The core idea is to formalize how the U.S. uses these events for diplomatic outreach, requiring detailed plans on how success will be measured and how the State Department will coordinate internally (SEC. 2). For regular folks, this means that every time a major tournament rolls into a U.S. city, the federal government will be actively using it to push specific diplomatic and commercial goals, linking the local buzz to global engagement.

Creating a Dedicated Diplomacy Team

To execute this strategy, the bill formalizes and renames the existing sports diplomacy division into the Office of Sports Diplomacy within the State Department (SEC. 3). This new office is tasked with coordinating the entire strategy across government agencies and external partners. Crucially, it must staff at least three extra full-time employees (FTEs) dedicated solely to this mission until December 31, 2034. This is a clear investment in long-term infrastructure, meaning taxpayers are funding a new, dedicated government unit focused entirely on sports-related foreign policy for the next decade. While this promises better coordination, it also means a guaranteed expense for the next ten years.

Streamlining the Welcome Mat

One provision that could directly impact international visitors—and indirectly help the host cities—is the focus on visa processing. The strategy explicitly requires active efforts to cut down on visa appointment wait times for eligible athletes, their families, broadcasters, and other international visitors coming for the games (SEC. 2, SEC. 3). For the local businesses and tourism sectors in host cities, this is huge: faster, more secure entry means fewer headaches for visitors and potentially more money spent locally. It formalizes a push to make the U.S. a more efficient host for these massive global events.

The Partnership Push

The Office of Sports Diplomacy is required to partner with a wide array of groups, including local host cities, diaspora communities, the U.S. sports industry, and even American arts, film, and music creators (SEC. 3). The goal is to maximize cultural and commercial exchange. For example, if you run a small business in a host city, this means the State Department will actively be looking for ways to connect you with international trade and tourism offices. If you’re an artist or musician, the State Department might be looking to feature your work as part of the cultural exchange programs for foreign visitors. This blend of diplomacy and commerce is a core pillar of the bill, aiming to turn sports fans into potential trade partners.

Accountability and the Long Haul

Because this is a multi-year effort, the bill includes strong reporting requirements. The State Department must make its 5-year strategy public, and the Secretary of State has to send an annual progress report to Congress until the end of 2034 (SEC. 2, SEC. 4). This long-term accountability mechanism means the Office of Sports Diplomacy can’t just set up shop and coast; they have to consistently show Congress—and the public—how they are measuring up against their diplomatic goals. For those who track government spending and efficiency, this mandated reporting provides a clear benchmark to assess whether the investment in sports diplomacy is actually paying off.