On an idyllic spring day this year, diplomats gathered in the United Nations garden to kick around a soccer ball. In anticipation of the FIFA Men’s World Cup and in honor of U.N. World Football Day, they organized an informal soccer tournament, with teams representing Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America going head-to-head. Trading their suits and ties for shorts and jerseys, many diplomats extolled the potential of sports to inspire cooperation. “Conflicts and wars are not solved by sports, but sports diplomacy is a very important thing,” said Ricklef Beutin, the U.N. ambassador for Germany, which hosted a beer-and-bratwurst party for the U.N. tournament. “Sports opens up minds and unites people.” In June, the U.N. convened a serious meeting on sports diplomacy with business leaders an