The Next Decade of Global Sports Requires a National Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC, February 20, 2026

Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment strongly supports passage of the American Decade of Sports Act (S.3676), introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and John Curtis (R-UT). We also commend the bipartisan leadership behind the companion House legislation (H.R. 5021), led by Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) alongside Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Michael McCaul (R-TX).

As the United States prepares to host an unprecedented era of global sporting events, the primary challenge is not venue construction or ticket sales, but coordination across government agencies, international stakeholders, and commercial rights holders. Today, responsibility for international event delivery is fragmented across departments and jurisdictions, forcing organizers to solve operational issues in real time rather than through national planning. This legislation addresses that gap by establishing a unified sports diplomacy strategy and strengthening the Office of Sports Diplomacy within the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The Act importantly links sports diplomacy with commercial diplomacy, creating a framework for public-private cooperation between federal agencies, host cities, sponsors, professional leagues, and media partners. As American sports become increasingly global, aligning diplomatic engagement with commercial strategy ensures the United States captures not only the cultural benefits of hosting global events and expanding domestic leagues but also the associated trade, investment, and influence that comes with them.

Equally critical is the Act’s emphasis on predictable and secure visa processing for athletes, support staff, media personnel, and international visitors. Successful global sports and events depend on a reliable immigration policy. Establishing advance planning mechanisms for mobility and entry processing will reduce operational risk, protect the reputation of the United States as a host nation, and support both security and facilitation objectives.

Jetr Global has long advocated for greater focus and resources to be devoted to the field of sports diplomacy in the United States based on our firsthand experience supporting teams, leagues, and global sporting events through fragmented government processes. The absence of a coordinated framework forces these challenges to be solved individually instead of systematically which could be devestating as the country enters an era in which international sport will function as both a diplomatic platform and an economic gateway.

This bipartisan legislation recognizes that sports in America, be it domestic sports leagues or international sporting events, are no longer isolated moments. They are instruments of national competitiveness and international engagement. We are proud to support this measure and strongly believe it will help ensure the coming decade of sport delivers lasting diplomatic and economic value for the United States.