US ambassador to UN talks Qatar World Cup, impact sports can make in diplomacy with Fox Sports

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, visited the Fox Sports studio in Doha, Qatar, as she prepares to attend the closing ceremonies of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The White House announced Wednesday that Thomas-Greenfield would lead the presidential delegation to Qatar. 

"I got the honor of being selected by the White House to head a presidential delegation to the finals and receive the handover to North America tomorrow," Thomas-Greenfield said. "I’m just excited to be here. In fact, this is surreal to me to see what you all have put together here to show the world what the final is like at Qatar."

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The closing ceremony of the 2022 World Cup will take place prior to the start of the final between Argentina and France. 

"The final ceremony will last 15 minutes and reference the world coming together for the 29 days of the tournament through poetry and music," FIFA said.

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Thomas-Greenfield spoke about what the World Cup meant to a smaller country like Qatar. 

"I think it opens up Qatar for the world to see this country," she explained. "To see the amazing things that are taking place here. The development that is taking place. And the fact that a country as small as Qatar can host an event as big as this."

Thomas-Greenfield was also impressed by what the World Cup stands for outside the game itself. Like FIFA's explanation of the closing ceremonies suggests, it's about nations coming together for the game of soccer. 

A match between Iran and the United States is a prime example of what sports can do. 

"What I have seen, just looking at the match between Iran and the United States, I witnessed the power that sports can have in bridging the gaps between countries," Thomas-Greenfield said. "What I saw those two teams do on the field and the compassion and the respect that they showed to each other was amazing. Sports diplomacy is diplomacy at its best."

Thomas-Greenfield is heading the handover for the United States becaues it will be one of three nations to co-host the World Cup in 2026. Canada and Mexico will also host sites for the tournament. 

"It was a big deal in [1994], but it is going to be a bigger deal this time around because our team is so strong," Thomas-Greenfield said, referencing the World Cup being played in the U.S. that year. "Our team really performed beyond anything we expected this year, so the expectations are going to be really high [in 2026]. We’re all waiting and watching, and having it actually hosted in the United States will be a huge signal to the world."

Next year, though, the U.S. women's national team will be traveling to Australia and New Zealand in hopes of winning a third straight World Cup, something Thomas-Greenfield would love to see in person if she can make it. 

"The women’s soccer team makes us so proud. They have shown the power of women in sports, so I would love to be there," she said.

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The closing ceremonies in Qatar will conclude the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East that saw the first African country reach the semifinal stage. 

Morocco, competing in its sixth World Cup, shockingly came in first in Group F and defeated Spain and Portugal on its way to the semifinals.

After losing to France, Morocco ended its incredible World Cup run Saturday with a loss to Croatia in the third-place match. 

All eyes now turn to the final on Sunday, as Lionel Messi and Argentina look to win their first World Cup since 1986. 

France has a chance at history as it attempts to become the first back-to-back winner of the World Cup since Brazil won consecutive titles in 1958 and 1962.  

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Eleven U.S. cities will host games in 2026, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York/New Jersey and Boston.