At the opening match of the 2018 World Cup all ambassadors to countries competing in the games donned team jersies over their suits. Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, in red, addressed his colleagues. “I wish you all a good soccer cup and let the best team win,” he stated.

Applause erupted, then clenched jaws — game face.

At the United Nations, the World Cup is an event. Even in the middle of a work day, UN officials duck out of meetings to catch some action, some even skipping out entirely like Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark, who was supposed to be preparing for the general assembly. “I skipped a meeting with all of my staff,” he said.

Part of that determination to catch a game comes from the fact that some UN officials see the World Cup as an extension of their job, diplomacy at play. Permanent Representative of the Mexican Mission to the United Nations, Gomez Camacho, described the parallels of the World Cup to the UN.

"It’s like a good marriage," he explained. "The organization and the World Cup, because at the end they pursue the same objectives which is work together to solve the same challenges and sports also plays an important role in that."  

But at the same time, of course, the draw is less noble — fierce competition. Practically every  country playing in the cup is represented, crowding around a TV in the delegates lounge, which is like the fanciest work cafeteria ever decorated with priceless art and gifts from various countries including Person rugs and Ming vases. 

 

Colleagues chide each other. The permanent representatives to both Denmark and Peru predicted on the day their countries play one another, "no, we will not be friends."

During the last World Cup in 2014 the games were late in the day and the staff went whole hog, serving themed cocktails. But this time, with early morning broadcasts from the games in Russia, it’s mostly coffee. Nonetheless, some like attache Luis Gustave managed to find a beer.

"Brazilians cannot see the world cup without having a beer," he said. "It's mandatory, but technically in Brazil it's 12 o clock, so we are good." 

When asked if things ever get heated, delegate Bruno Rias explained "Things get competitive, especially in the later games… but it's very diplomatic.”

When the first game ended (Russia 3, Saudia Arabia nil) the Russian and Saudi Arabian delegations congratulated each other with exemplar competitive diplomacy.

"Congratulations. You deserved that, but we gave it to you because it was on your grounds," a Saudi declared.

”Thank you. That was very nice of you, I have to go chair a meeting,” said the Russian.

Just like that it was back to work, at least until the next match.