A Luncheon and Discussion:
on
"The World Cup in Atlanta: Can the Beautiful Game Rise Above Domestic and Geopolitics on the Biggest Stage"
With Special Guest
Don Riddell, Anchor and Correspondent for CNN International's World Sport Program
In Conversation With
Mark Pierson, ACIR's Vice President of Diplomatic Relations and Strategic Development
The FIFA World Cup is returning to the United States, and in a tournament sprawling across three continents and 16 cities, Atlanta is going to be front and center of the action. In every way, FIFA's flagship tournament is bigger than ever before, a record 48 teams will now compete for the most coveted sporting trophy on the planet. However, the sport's world governing body is also now entangled in world politics in a manner that threatens to undercut its own mantra that "football should take center stage."
Join us for a luncheon to discuss the growth of the World Cup from modest beginnings almost a century ago to the behemoth it has become today. We'll illustrate why the game has the potential to unite people globally in ways that the United States hasn't yet truly experienced with football, while highlighting how this tournament might be overshadowed by geopolitical concerns and the tense political situation in its main host nation.
Will the 2026 World Cup showcase the beautiful game at its brightest and best? Or will it be dimmed by corruption and manipulation to further a domestic political agenda?
JOIN US:
Date: Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m.
Venue: Capital City Club (downtown)
7 John Portman Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Parking: Complimentary valet parking is available
You Must Register and Pay in Advance to Attend
Registration Closes Monday, March 9th, at 10 am
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, please do so not later than 48 hours before the event. ACIR is charged for your meal, so no refund can be provided.
Meet Don Riddell
Don Ridder is an award-winning anchor and correspondent for World Sport, working out of CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta.
After joining CNN in 2002, Riddell has become one of the network's longest-serving and most versatile anchors, having also presented the long-running feature show Living Golf as well as news programs World News and CNN Today. As such, his interest lies at the intersection of sport, culture, technology, and politics.
From match-fixing in football to competition manipulation, athlete abuse, and 'sports washing,' Riddell's brief at CNN extends far beyond simply the results and the highlights.
Soccer lies at the heart of his passion, he covered the controversial buildup to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and a successful tournament on the ground. He attended the draw for the 2026 tournament in Washington D.C. and will be heavily involved in covering FIFA's expanded tournament across North America this summer.
Riddell works across platforms, broadcasting on television, and writing complimentary coverage for CNN.com. He has reported on stories from dozens of countries, speaking to many of the world's top athletes and profiling stories as diverse as match-fixing and the emergence of eSports. He has covered the Olympics, the Super Bowl, all four golf majors, the Ryder Cup, various 'fight nights' in Las Vegas, Wimbledon, the Rugby World Cup, Tour de France, and many Champions League Finals.
In addition to sports, Riddell has also covered many diverse news stories, from the Chapecoense place crash in Brazil to the Royal Wedding in London. From the studio, he has covered earthquakes, terror attacks, and the obituary coverage of Muhammad Ali. He has profiled a variety of personalities from astronauts to prime ministers, holocaust survivors, and even the world's tallest man.
Riddell has a bachelor's degree with honors in Public Media/Communication and Cultural Studies from Leeds University.
Please Note:
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For questions about or difficulties in registering for the event, please contact: registrar@atlantacir.org
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By registering, I understand that photos and/or video may be taken at this program and agree that these materials may be used for promotional purposes. Please contact the programming team with questions: registrar@atlantacir.org
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To contact Member Services click on membership@atlantacir.org
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Members are welcome to bring guests at member rates. The same guest may only be invited once at member rates. Select "One time Guest of Member", when registering.
Thank you for supporting ACIR with your attendance.
ACIR 2026 Sponsors
Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
Center for International Business Education and Research
ACIR Strategic Partners
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Center for International Business Education and Research
Georgia Institute of Technology (CIBER)
Institutional Members
Georgia Institute of Technology
Kennesaw State University
University of North Georgia
ACIR is a Community Partner of the
Association of the U.S. Army
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For more information:
Visit: www.atlantacir.org
Contact: info@atlantacir.org
Atlanta Council on International Relations
921 Monroe Drive, Suite A102-421, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404)-663-2606
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Photo credit: NATO Innovation hubj
China Cognitive Warfare
with
Josh Baughman, US National Defense University
Cognitive Warfare is seen as its own domain in modern warfare alongside the four military domains defined by their environment (land, maritime, air and space) and the cyber domain connects them all. Cognitive Warfare operates on a global stage as we are all digitally connected and uses information technology and the tools, machines, networks and systems to seek out it's target: intelligence.
China, as a strategic competitor to NATO, describes Cognitive Warfare as the use of public opinion, psychological operations, and legal influence to achieve victory. Combat psychology has significant impact on the warfighter's ability to function with a focus on recording facial information, emotional changes and psychological states of soldiers to determine their combat status. Outside of the battlefield, influence can also affect law, rule-of-order and civil constructs.
JOIN US:
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m.
Venue: Capital City Club (downtown)
7 John Portman Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Parking: Complimentary valet parking is available
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, please do so not later than 48 hours before the event. ACIR is charged for your meal, so no refund can be provided.
