World Cup 2026 becomes a global diplomacy stage as nations marshal soft power

POLITICO’s live World Cup updates frame the tournament as a theater for diplomacy and soft power: Spain’s clash with Trump overshadows the field, New Zealand pursues off-field influence through diplomacy, Japan uses embassy watch parties to project cultural power, Iran’s visa and security considerations complicate attendance, Croatia promotes tourism and celebrity ties to boost visibility, and host cities like Arlington weigh the economic and logistical costs of staging the event.