Putin Already Won in Hosting Russia 2018: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Diplomacy
J Simon Rofe
10 August 201811 Minute Read
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović are drenched while presenting medals to the victorious French national football team. Russian President Vladimir Putin remains dry. Courtesy
The recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with a platform to engage in a fruitful bout of ‘sport diplomacy’. Through hosting the World Cup, Putin helped to enhanced Russia’s place on the international stage, positioning himself as orchestrator of a geopolitical contest for the duration of the tournament, while a quality sporting spectacle played out on the pitch.
Please wait while we verify your account can view this article.
