Leaders mix sport and diplomacy at World Cup

Dozens of senior officials flew to Qatar to cheer on the teams while talking shop. The event magnified the tiny Gulf nation's role as a diplomatic broker.

They showed up in the shiny football stadiums here in Qatar one after another, appearing more frequently than yellow cards or penalty goals.

French President Emmanuel Macron cheered on his 'Les Bleus' team on Wednesday as they were beating pugnacious underdog Morocco to qualify for the Men's World Cup Final this weekend.

Rep Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota, posted a photo of her and David Beckham during the game between the United States and Wales last month: "It was fun watching a World Cup match with him," she wrote in line.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was also present at the game, the day before he met with r Qatari officials for political discussions. He saw Tim Weah, son of the president of Liberia, who was in the box with Mr Blinken, score the first goal for the USA team of the tournament. Last Tuesday, at a summit with African leaders in Washington, Mr. Blinken recalled that moment when he introduced Liberian President George Weah, himself a footballing legend.

"The best part of it was turning around and taking a quick look at your face as you watched your son score that goal, and I could see the amazing pride that was there and an entire stadium cheering for him," Blinken said. "So I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree in this case."

The tournament, which takes place every four years, always has been a draw for dignitaries, but this one was more notable because host Qatar, a small, wealthy Persian Gulf kingdom, decided more than a decade ago to elevate its stature by hosting a global event exceptional. He succeeded, despite continued criticism of corruption, migrant worker abuse and the criminalization of homosexuality.

The World Cup also amplifies Qatar's role as a diplomatic broker. Even before the Games, President Biden had declared Qatar a "major non-NATO ally" and US officials had come to rely on it to facilitate trade with Iran, the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Palestinians.

The event is another example of how politics and sports often intertwine. World leaders and senior officials have been passing through Qatar since the start of the World Cup on November 20 to watch matches and hold meetings, sometimes literally on the sidelines.

Some leaders, including Mr. Weah, have spent so much time...