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'The difference is significant': Why tourists are flocking to South Korea for medical care
Travellers are increasingly adding comprehensive health check-ups to their South Korea itineraries, drawn by affordable prices, fast results and English-language support.
Reckitt to take £175mn hit from sale of Russian hygiene business
Consumer goods group began process to dispose of division more than four years ago
10 things you probably didn’t know about male nurses—until now
Fun fact No. 3: This year the American Nurses Association began recognizing men’s health as a nursing specialty. (It’s too soon to say whether the development will draw more men into nursing, but it certainly can’t hurt.)
CrossCurrents: HVACR Business Intelligence
Welcome to the first edition of CrossCurrents: HVACR Business Intelligence. Each installment curates the most important headlines from outside the traditional HVACR press, drawing...
Protect College Sports Act unlikely to be voted on before summer recess
The bill has drawn support from the NCAA and many Division I conferences, but not the Big Ten and SEC, which are recommending changes.
Trump administration admits legal errors and withdraws subpoenas of 3 NYT reporters
Criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the government on Thursday grudgingly withdrew subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.
Government withdraws subpoenas of 3 NYT reporters after admitting legal errors
The government had sought testimony from the journalists about their sources for articles about Trump's Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet
GalaxyCon Raleigh is back. What to know before you go
The annual event draws celebrities, creators, writers, cosplayers and fans into four-day "Festival of Fandom."
S.F.’s Pier 70 lands its first music festival
The festival, headlined by DJ and producer BLOND:ISH, will take place in September.
US House passes war powers resolution directing Trump to withdraw US military from Iran
Resolution, which comes after similar one in June, is largely symbolic, as Trump administration says it’s unconstitutional
Mosquito research draws KSU environmental science major to the woods for the summer
Kennesaw State University senior Brooklyn Galvan has found a happy place for the summer – in the mosquito-infested woods near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The environmental science major is conducting research into mosquitoes as pollinators as part of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates for Gulf Coastal Plains Ecology. The experience builds on Galvan’s experience researching the importance of mosquitoes to the ecosystem in the lab of KSU Assistant Professor of Microbiology Andrew Haddow.
Letters – World Cup, mental health, politics, GOP's elephant
Readers appreciate those who hosted the World Cup, say laws need to be changed regarding mental health, disagree with a letter writer and criticize showcasing an elephant.
Gen Z doesn't want normal politics. It wants results
Young voters on the left and right are drawn to candidates who promise disruption, authenticity and economic change.
Hawaii health officials warn of keiki fruit pouch recall
The Hawaii Department of Health is alerting residents to a recall for select Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics Banana & Strawberry pouches for kids sold at Target.
Trauma-informed coaching program aims to keep more Chicago kids in sports
Chicago's WNBA All-Star festivities are highlighting some of the biggest names in women's basketball, but they are also drawing attention to the coaches shaping the next generation of athletes.
Outside Lands organizer gets green light for more S.F. concerts
San Francisco is doubling down on live music in Golden Gate Park, extending permits that will bring more concerts — and more crowds — to the city’s west side.
Summer Ag Fairs Draw New Audiences With Entertainment
Fairs use entertainment to get people interested and in turn to introduce them to agriculture where they are, even if that means concerts on the bed of a pickup truck.
Mark Lamster: What a new Dallas Mavericks arena should look like
Mark Lamster on how the Dallas Mavericks can transform Valley View into a fan and environmentally friendly neighborhood.
Private investment in youth sports draws state, federal scrutiny
U.S. Rep. Chris DeLuzio co-sponsored a bill to limit private investment in the $40 billion youth sports industry.
Insurers cut prices in hunt for new oil and gas business
Projects in safe regions become more highly prized and send premiums down as competition rises
St. Pete Beach parking: Business owners say higher rates drive customers away
Higher parking rates at St. Pete Beach are drawing criticism from local business owners who say the increased costs are keeping visitors away. One owner has launched an online petition urging city leaders to revisit the parking policy before more businesses are affected.
Texans’ Tank Dell Draws More Attention After Turning Heads
The Texans have missed him. The post Texans’ Tank Dell Draws More Attention After Turning Heads appeared first on HEAVY.
Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields won't seek reelection after Democrat's seat was redrawn
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields says he won’t not seek reelection to his redrawn Louisiana congressional district
Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields won't seek reelection after Democrat's seat was redrawn
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields says he won't not seek reelection to his redrawn Louisiana congressional district | Newsradio 1140 WRVA
Trump must divulge financial details about businesses in $10bn BBC lawsuit
US judge’s ruling could open up window into first family’s multiple ventures, in drawback of lawsuit on media
Measles surge puts West Coast health departments on alert
With U.S. measles cases nearing last year’s total, California and Oregon officials said Tuesday that fragile public health systems may struggle to handle new infections.
Pixar reportedly loses 150 jobs in new round of Disney layoffs
Pixar absorbed a large share of Disney’s latest studio layoffs, according to industry reports, even as “Toy Story 5” approaches another major box-office milestone.
The secret to successful sports organizations? Employees who feel safe enough to speak up
With major sporting events like Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup drawing global attention this summer, new findings from a University of Florida researcher highlight an often-overlooked factor behind their success: the well-being of the employees working behind the scenes.
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.
Axing UK science department risks slower policymaking, say tech leaders
Industry figures welcome Kanishka Narayan’s promotion as AI minister but warn shake-up could push sector down agenda
Laredo Public Health continues ABA caregiver workshop series
The Laredo Public Health Department will host the fourth session of its ABA Parent & Caregiver Workshop series, focusing on teaching life skills and independence for kids with special care...
Extreme heat is eroding health, productivity and incomes of Dhaka’s informal workers
DHAKA — On June 28, as the afternoon sun beat down on Bangladesh capital Dhaka’s sprawling Tejgaon neighborhood, Samiha Begum gathered her two school-aged children and headed for the shade of Hatirjheel Lake. Their narrow one-room home in a nearby slum had become unbearable. She said, “The room starts heating up as soon as the […]
LPI Scientists Honored with Asteroid Naming by the IAU
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has recognized the scientific achievements of Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientists Dr. Imene Kerraouch and Dr. Allison McGraw by naming asteroids (20452) Kerraouch and (20092) Allisonmcgraw in their honor.
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.
Private investment in youth sports draws state, federal scrutiny
Courtney Hamby and her husband spend close to $6,000 per year for their daughter Ellie’s cheer and tumbling classes, competition fees and uniforms. That doesn’t include their travel expenses for multiple out-of-town competitions, including hotel rooms, gas, meals, and sometimes even flights. “This should be something that everyone gets to play, and it shouldn’t be […]
Linklaters partners handed record £2.5mn payday as Asia business booms
‘Magic circle’ law firm cites Hong Kong listings work and growth in US as it reports bumper payouts for top ranks
AI-generated political ad in St. Charles County raises deepfake questions ahead of primary election
With two weeks until Election Day, a fully AI-generated political ad targeting candidates in the St. Charles County executive race is drawing scrutiny over the role of deepfakes in local elections
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
AI political ads draw scrutiny in the Tennessee 6th Congressional District race
AI Political Ads in Tennessee's 6th Congressional race raise questions about a state AI Disclosure Law as Johnny Garrett and Van Hilleary use artificial intelligence in campaign videos.
Former sports reporter brings love of the game to life in art
Former Edgerton and Janesville print and broadcast sports reporter Bob Samuelson has brought his lifelong love of the game to life in the form of hand-drawn portraits of legendary athletes.
Clint Reilly, longtime San Francisco power broker, dies at 79
Clint Reilly advised some of California’s biggest political names, ran for San Francisco mayor and fought to preserve newspaper competition before purchasing the Examiner himself.
Trump calls for review after climate manual for judges withdrawn
President Trump called for a “review” on Sunday of an updated judges’ manual that he claims the left improperly influenced. It follows the removal of a controversial climate science chapter from th…
Are Fish Oil Supplements Good for Brain Health? Here’s What the Science Says
Known as a sports supplement, creatine is drawing attention for its potential effects on cognition, mood and healthy brain aging.
Hendricks gave $25M to MAGA Inc., her largest recorded political donation ever
Many ultrawealthy people got access to President Trump after making major donations to his super PAC, MAGA Inc.
Picklesburgh brings big business boost to local Pittsburgh shops
Picklesburgh draws thousands of visitors, helps small businesses turn one pickle-filled weekend into major monthly revenue.
Which Running Backs Will Outperform Their Fantasy Football ADP?
With the 2026-2027 NFL campaign drawing near, fantasy football managers are eagerly waiting for draft season to begin. And every year, many wonder which running backs are going to be the key to their fantasy team. With that said, there are several halfbacks that are flying under the radar on most draft boards, with many […] The post Which Running Backs Will Outperform Their Fantasy Football ADP? appeared first on The Lead.
Telemundo adds UEFA Champions League rights in multiyear deal
With a record-breaking World Cup drawing to a close on Sunday, Telemundo is announcing its next step in soccer broadcasting. The NBCUniversal-owned network announced on Sunday that it has secured exclusive U.S. Spanish-language broadcast rights for all UEFA men’s club competitions, including Champions League, for three years beginning with the 2027-28 season. Currently, U.S. Spanish-language…
Amazon-Affiliated Pop-Up Draws Long Lines and Protestors
Hundreds of shoppers waiting in line to go to the Shop Bop pop-up shop in Edgartown last week were met with a group of protesters who urged them to shop at locally-owned businesses.
Dallas psych hospital adds beds, but Texas can’t shoulder burden alone
We need more federal investment for inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare.
Albany Med is interested Ellis Medicine, but merger raises questions
The potential deal is raising new questions about Albany Med’s rapid expansion in a region with fewer and fewer independent healthcare practices.
Gainesville Black Business Expo draws dozens of vendors to MLK Jr. Center
Dozens of local businesses gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for the Gainesville Black Business Expo.
Raiders’ Owner Tom Brady Makes Eye-Opening Fernando Mendoza Move
Tom Brady is continuing to draw attention at Fanatics Fest, with his latest head-turning move involving Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The post Raiders’ Owner Tom Brady Makes Eye-Opening Fernando Mendoza Move appeared first on HEAVY.
‘It was a miraculous save’: S.F. drag club Oasis roars back
Saved from closure by a multimillion-dollar gift, the beloved South of Market queer venue reopened with a new look, packed drag lineup and renewed mission to preserve queer culture.
Nebraska’s Democratic Senate Nominee Files to Withdraw From Race
The move by Cindy Burbank could clear a path for Dan Osborn, an independent candidate backed by her party’s leadership. But Republicans have cried foul, and her effort could face obstacles.
Food Bank's Health Partnership Model Draws National Praise
A new national report shows how FARSB's FoodRx program is helping Inland Empire neighbors eat better and stay healthier close to home.
Many Homeowners Use Their Oven Drawer Wrong—Here’s What It’s Really For, According to an Appliance Pro
How to tell if your oven’s bottom drawer is best used for storage, food warming, or something else, such as a broiler.
Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for week of July 19-26
The North Texas business datebook for the week of July 19 includes key earnings reports for national and Dallas-Fort Worth companies.
Eben Sadie: ‘Culture, not science, makes wine’
South Africa’s pioneering winemaker, a driving force behind the country’s new wave of winemaking, talks research, instinct and succession
Local business owner reacts to AC/DC bringing tour to Madison amid heat, air quality concerns
MADISON, Wis. — Rock legends AC/DC will bring their "PWR Up" tour to Camp Randall Stadium on Sunday, drawing thousands of fans to the venue and surrounding businesses. However, the
Cinematic ‘The Odyssey’ does right by by Homer’s poem
Christopher Nolan and all-star cast tame a sprawling story for the screen
Trump raises election concerns, drawing pushback from Kentucky lawmakers
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., and two Kentucky congressmen are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s speech Thursday night.
Entertainment company bucks exodus narrative with move to California
Disney bought the company in 2009.
The heart of service: Charmaine Reeder and Community Health
Charmaine Reeder, on behalf of the ECU Health’s work with Pitt County Meals on Wheels, received a Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) Following Lake Tahoe Relaunch Has Fair Value Back In Focus
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) has drawn fresh investor attention after unveiling Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino and completing a multi phase refresh of the former Harveys Lake Tahoe with updated rooms, gaming, dining and entertainment. See our latest analysis for Caesars Entertainment. Recent events, including the Lake Tahoe relaunch and a board resignation announcement, come as Caesars Entertainment’s share price has a 90 day share price return of 9.88% and a year to date share...
Knuckle hop and two-foot high kick: the Olympics for Alaska Natives breathe new life into ancient games
The annual World Eskimo Indian Olympics draw hundreds of Indigenous athletes to partake in traditional games and celebrate their heritage
Disney Jr., Animaj Quietly Launch ‘Ozzy Fox’ On Youtube
Created by Jennifer Oxley and developed by 'Pocoyo' creator Guillermo García-Carsí, the preschool series has drawn nearly 800,000 views in its first two days.
Letters – Texas business ranking, Dallas City Council, Lindsey Graham
Readers discuss CNBC’s ranking of Texas, don’t like the Dallas furloughs, remember Sen. Lindsey Graham and question what ICE is doing.
New Haven bus project could cut 44 downtown parking spaces by 2030
Business owners on eastern Elm Street said a proposed plan to eliminate street parking would be damaging to business.
FBI: Motown Sports Village promoter charged in alleged multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme in Romulus
A West Bloomfield man has been federally charged with wire fraud in connection with a heavily marketed proposal to develop a sprawling youth sports and entertainment complex in Romulus.
FBI: Motown Sports Village promoter charged in alleged multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme in Romulus
A West Bloomfield man has been federally charged with wire fraud in connection with a heavily marketed proposal to develop a sprawling youth sports and entertainment complex in Romulus.
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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