It’s been one year since George Floyd was killed, one local action that sparked ripple effects domestically and internationally. And now, in 2021, it is time to ask ourselves how to contribute to tangible progress.

Tomorrow the French national team confronts the United States in Le Havre in what could turn into a more interesting-than-usual friendly match. The two teams’ histories with each other form a very different sort of Franco-Americain relationship than most people think of.

I’ve focused on five clutch inflection points that sculpted the past twelve months—a nod to my training as a historian, which is to identify inflection points, pivotal moments that unleash onwards change, disruption, revolution, war, lasting peace, prosperity, and more. Here are my five for 2020…

There’s unsurprisingly lots of synergy between the two in that they both seek to communicate, represent, and negotiate as part of their core functions—even as their goals and objectives may be different. These threads are pulled together in my recent Sports Business Journal Daily op-ed, “Sports Diplomacy As An Engagement Tool.”

This Armistice Day is a time to feel hopeful, for great eras of diplomatic crisis historically result in modernization and professionalization of U.S. diplomacy, reengineering it to better function and thrive in new eras—and yes, this includes sports diplomacy.

Four years of an ‘America First’ foreign policy has made ‘America Alone.’ There is a dire imperative to rebuild the United States’ reputation and role within the international community—and sports diplomacy can play a vitally important role providing comparatively easy, early wins...if done well with intention and thought.

The 2020 U.S. election will be historic for many reasons, including the unprecedented civic engagement by teams, leagues, and coaches—spearheaded by sportswomen and men of all ages. And I believe their calls urging community members and fans to educate themselves about the issues and to cast their ballots will play a role in voter turnout. There’s also an element of sports diplomacy in play as U.S. players communicate, represent, and negotiate this political activist culture with their foreign counterparts, who in turn may take up or re-engage in their own brand of civic engagement.

Sports diplomacy can be an important tool for any athlete’s toolbox. Its understandable that some international athletes may not feel comfortable speaking up about what’s going on in the host country where they play, for a variety of reasons. Yet, they can still contribute in impactful ways to the conversation—if they so wish—through the prism of sports diplomacy.

Today the Football Scholars Forum met with journalist James Montague to discuss his latest work, 1312: Among the Ultras, A journey with the world’s most extreme fans. The conversation (and book) was so enlightening because, as Montague noted, while there’s so much known about the game and culture of football, very little is known about the Ultras.