Soccer Diplomacy: How the World Cup Shapes Global Power
Friday, April 17 • 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
El Camino College (Torrance, CA)

Los Angeles is preparing to take center stage on the world’s athletic and diplomatic map—welcoming the FIFA 2026 World Cup as a host city and gearing up for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With global attention turning to LA, this program explores how major international sporting events influence geopolitics, national identity, soft power, and global cooperation.

Join the Los Angeles World Affairs Council for a special high school program featuring a panel of leading sports diplomacy experts. Together, they will discuss how the World Cup shapes international relations, why nations invest so heavily in hosting global competitions, and the ways sports can bridge cultures, ease tensions, and elevate voices on the world stage.

Students will gain a deeper understanding of the powerful intersection of sports, diplomacy, and global affairs—and the unique role Los Angeles will play in the years ahead.

Thanks to our generous sponsor, this program is free for high school students and their chaperones—teachers or parents—who can provide transportation to and from the venue. Lunch is provided to all attendees. 

If you are a teacher, educator, or parent interested in bringing students to this program, please contact Krista Seitz at kseitz@lawac.org or (424) 258-6160.

Kenneth Ahn

Deputy Director of International Event Diplomacy

Kenneth Ahn serves as the Deputy Director of International Event Diplomacy in the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles. In this role, he leads the City’s international engagement strategy tied to major global sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. 

In his current role, Kenneth works closely with foreign governments, National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, consulates, and international city counterparts to position Los Angeles as a collaborative, values-driven host city. He leads diplomatic outreach tied to hospitality houses and international activations, cultivating partnerships that strengthen bilateral relationships and drive cultural and economic exchange in the lead-up to 2028. Through his work, Los Angeles is leveraging major global events not only as moments of celebration, but as catalysts for inclusive growth and enduring international partnerships. 

Previously, Kenneth oversaw the development of Los Angeles’ social impact and legacy initiatives connected to these events, including human rights strategy, inclusive procurement and local hire programs, sustainability partnerships, and international hospitality engagement. His portfolio included advancing a comprehensive Human Rights Action Plan aligned with international standards; building frameworks to safeguard workers, vulnerable communities, and LGBTQ+ populations during mega-events; and designing long-term legacy programs that expand economic opportunity for small and local businesses across Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods. 

Consul General Sophie Hottat

Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles

Sophie Hottat is a Belgian diplomat, currently serving as Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles with jurisdiction over 13 sates covering the whole West of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. She previously served as Minister Counsellor heading the Economic section and Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy in Beijing, China, from 2020 until 2023. 

She gained experience in trade policy and economic affairs, including the World Trade Organization and representing Belgium at the Trade Committee of the OCDE, while at the Headquarters in Belgium, and serving as Deputy Head of Mission and head of the Economic section at the Belgian Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. She also served at the Belgian Embassies in Lisbon and in Canberra.

Prior to joining the diplomatic service, Ms. Hottat worked as a scientific expert at the Royal Military Museum in Brussels, where she curated various exhibitions on NATO, the Belgian Navy during the First World War and several sections of the permanent exhibition on contemporary conflicts, among other things. 

She holds a master's degree in History from the University of Brussels (ULB) and a bachelor's degree in History of Arts (VUB), as well as a complementary degree in Management (Solvay School - VUB). She is fluent in French, Dutch, English, and Portuguese, and is married and has two sons.

Moderator: 

Kevin Baxter

Staff Writer, Sports, LA Times

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, six Olympic Games, seven World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. He has reported from 36 countries, among them Cuba, Nicaragua, Russia, Venezuela, and Uganda.