By Ajong Mbapndah L
WASHINGTON, D.C. — March 10, 2026.His Excellency Ibrahima Touré, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to the United States, participated Tuesday in a high-level discussion on sports diplomacy organized by the Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council.
The event marked the first session of the “Embassy Dialogues” series, hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and convened by Rama Yade, Senior Director of the program. The dialogue brought together Ambassador Touré and Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, to examine how sport is increasingly used as a tool of diplomacy, economic growth, and social development.
The discussion also focused on nations preparing to compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
During the exchange, Ambassador Touré highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s growing prominence in international sports. He noted that under the leadership of Alassane Ouattara, the country has significantly invested in modern sports infrastructure, athlete training programs, and the organization of major regional competitions.
Those efforts have yielded notable achievements. Côte d’Ivoire has won two titles in the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations, successfully hosted the continental tournament, and is now preparing to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, further strengthening its presence on the global football stage.
According to Ambassador Touré, sport has become an important pillar of national development and international influence for Côte d’Ivoire, fostering youth opportunities, economic activity, and global partnerships.
For its part, France emphasized its long-standing sporting tradition and continued commitment to shaping global sports governance through multilateral cooperation.
The discussion was held under the Atlantic Council’s “Power of Sports” initiative, a program designed to highlight the role of sport as a strategic instrument of diplomacy and development in the 21st century.
