It was an honor for The Diaspora World Cup to host The Honorable Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Mr. Devinda R. Subasinghe for the Kickoff at the 2018 edition.  Devinda R. Subasinghe, former Sri Lankan ambassador to the United States and Mexico, has been involved in U.S.-Asia relations for more than 30 years and is an expert on emerging markets and foreign policy. He served as a permanent observer to the Organization of the American States. A former development economist and investment banker, he worked closely with the United States on a broad range of issues during his term as ambassador, from coordinating emergency assistance for tsunami recovery to generating support for the Sri Lankan peace process.

The Diaspora World Cup is a project of the Diaspora Global Initiative that aims to make soccer the most accessible and impactful sport in our local and global community.  It serves as the social impact arm of the Diaspora Global initiative for a vision that soccer is a force for good.  By harnessing the unmatched ability of the game to bring people together, the Diaspora World Cup is helping communities across the United States use soccer to promote physical and mental well-being, strengthen local connections, and expand opportunities for participation for people of the Diaspora.  

The initiative is also designed to advance equity, particularly for teenagers at every level of the game, and to build a sense of belonging that will inspire leadership, volunteerism, and pride.  The Diaspora World Cup is about making sure that anyone who wants to play this game has the chance, regardless of where they live or what their story is.   We have a unique ability to bring people together through the power of the Diaspora, and we believe it can help build stronger, healthier communities across the country. This sport changes lives, and the Diaspora World Cup is committed to making sure more people get to feel that for themselves.