Museums across North America are launching sports-themed programming ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to bridge political and cultural divides between the US, Canada, and Mexico. The Pérez Art Museum Miami (Pamm) opened the exhibition "Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture" (originating from SFMOMA) with a conference called "Game Time" featuring artists, athletes, and curators. Artist Hank Willis Thomas discussed his quilted replica of Picasso's Guernica made from sports uniforms, framing sports as sublimated combat and highlighting labor inequities. Other institutions, like LACMA, are also presenting football-related shows.
This programming matters because it uses sports—a universally accessible, non-partisan topic—to foster dialogue and empathy in a time of extreme political polarization. As Cultural Counsel founder Adam Abdalla notes, sports can bring together people from all walks of life, from schoolteachers to billionaires, creating shared experiences that transcend perceived differences. The initiative demonstrates how museums can serve as neutral grounds for addressing divisive issues through cultural programming, leveraging the World Cup's unifying power to engage audiences and break down barriers.