Description
The FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program is a new, flexible program that will allow the Department of State to quickly respond to Administration’s foreign policy priorities in sports. The program expects to support approximately 40 exchange projects for 120-140 participants, including approximately 40-50 foreign participants and 80-90 from the United States. The recipient will implement a series of customized, short-term sports-based exchange projects for a variety of individuals that may include high-profile athletes, leaders in sports federations and ministries abroad, or non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators.
Some key aspects of the program include:
• Promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing understanding between participants and their host communities
• Supporting key sporting and cultural priorities of the Administration
• Leveraging the Decade of Sport in America, solidifying the FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy, building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and beyond
• Providing opportunities for participants to engage with other cultures and share their own cultural experiences
• Fostering cross-cultural competence and global perspective among participants