The TL/DR...

  • Sports can bring people together regardless of their differences by uniting fans around a shared identity and creating a strong sense of community.
  • Participation in team sports exposes individuals to teammates with different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences which can help them learn how to work together toward a common goal.
  • International sporting events like the FIFA World Cup can foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the culture and heritage of people from other countries and connect individuals across national divides.

If you were in Washington, D.C. during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup championship matchup between the Washington Capitals (“Caps”) and the Vegas Knights, you could not help but feel the excitement in the city. It was palpable. Whether the Caps were playing at home or away, it was common to see people of all ages in the Washington, D.C. area wearing their Caps jerseys, signaling their support for the team. Watch parties, held throughout the city, drew large groups of fans who came together to cheer on their team. Even people who were not fans of the Caps or those who had no interest at all in hockey joined the festivities. They wanted to be part of the moment and share in the joy and exuberance that permeated Caps fandom.

More recently, a similar scene played out in New York City when the Knicks won the 2026 NBA Championship. The series gave rise to a powerful sense of community among New Yorkers, driven in part by the historical and monumental nature of the win—the franchise had not won the championship title since 1973. That sense of community was on full display not only during the watch parties held throughout the city during the finals, but also during the parade and rally that took place to honor the team after they clinched the title. The Knicks championship gave rise to feelings among the team’s fans of being connected to one another, regardless of race, ethnicity, income level, political party affiliation, or any other factor that makes each person unique. Individuals experienced the shared identity and pride of being “Knicks fans.” And this demonstrates the unifying power of sports. Craig Esherick, professor and Academic Program Coordinator of the Sport Management Program within the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University, recently offered his perspective on how sports can forge connections between people.

Sports is more than just a competition—it is about connecting people with one another and creating a sense of belonging.

Traditional team sports like basketball, baseball, football, and soccer are competitive. The rules of the game set up a contest between two opposing teams, each one vying for the win. By its very nature, the contest is divisive, and the stakes are high. One team will experience the exhilaration of winning, while the other will leave the field in defeat. For the loyal fans of those teams, watching the games can be an emotional experience. The rivalry unfolding between the teams on the field is also being played out among the fans in the stands. But the passion that fans bring to the game as they cheer for their favorite team, is also what connects them through a shared love of the sport. While they may be adversaries during competition, that common passion can bridge divides once the game is over, uniting fans as one community and creating a sense of belonging. Effective sport managers understand that facilitating these types of connections is good for the continued growth and success of the sport.

Playing a team sport can help individuals develop the skills to effectively collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.

Research shows that playing a team sport is an effective way to gain greater insight into other people coming from all walks of life. Every individual on a team brings their own lived experiences and perspectives that their teammates can learn from. Participating in a traditional sport can help individuals develop the skills needed to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds while being part of a team focused on achieving a common goal. It can also instill the importance of demonstrating respect for other individuals, regardless of whether their interests and views may differ from your own.

The FIFA World Cup—Promoting an Appreciation for Other Cultures

An international sporting event such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup can promote an increased understanding of the culture of people who live in various parts of the world. It can also cultivate an enhanced appreciation of the customs and rich heritage of countries that are represented by the players on the field. At this year's tournament, international visitors cheered for their country’s team using chants familiar to the native fanbase. They also sampled some common staples of American cuisine (one of the more memorable moments reported in the media was the experience of soccer fans from Europe who tried ranch dressing for the very first time and discovered they liked it).

Even after their team was eliminated from competition, many soccer fans from diverse nationalities and backgrounds chose not to return home immediately. Instead, they stayed to support top World Cup contenders and internationally famous players like Argentinian legend Lionel Messi. These fans were connected in their shared enthusiasm and love for soccer and their desire to experience and learn more about North American culture.

Using Sports as a Diplomatic Tool

The “universal language of sports” is being used as a diplomatic tool to advance the foreign policy priorities of the United States and to bring foreign investment and tourism to the U.S. The Office of Sports Diplomacy within the U.S. Department of State manages four flagship sports-based exchange programs that are designed to “showcase American culture and excellence to foreign participants while establishing links with U.S. sports professionals and peers.” The exchange programs include the Sports Envoy Program, Sports Visitor Program, Global Sports Monitoring Program, and International Sports Programming Initiative. In its overview of the exchange programs appearing on its website, the Department states, “Sports diplomacy overcomes political sensitivities and transcends linguistic and socio-cultural differences to create and build stronger ties between people, communities, and governments.”


To learn more about degree offerings in the Sport Management Program at George Mason University, please visit the program website.