Sport Brings Croatia and the United States Closer Together

Sports legends, public officials and members of the Croatian-American community gathered near Washington, D.C., to celebrate a shared sporting history and explore new opportunities for cooperation ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The conference, titled Croatia-USA in Sports: Where History Meets Greatness, was held in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 19, 2026. Organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the United States to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, the event brought together athletes, sports federation and club representatives, diplomats and members of the Croatian-American community.

Through panel discussions and personal stories, participants reflected on historic sporting moments and explored opportunities for cooperation in youth development, education and preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics.

The entire conference was streamed online by Croatians Online, highlighting once again how sport can connect people, nations and continents.

Croatian Ambassador to the United States Pjer Šimunović opened the event, highlighting both the contributions of Croatian Americans to American sporting success and the achievements of Croatian athletes who have helped put their country on the world map.

Remembering the historic match of 1990

The opening panel revisited October 17, 1990, when Croatia played its first international football match in the modern era, defeating the United States 2-1 at Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium.

Thirty-six years later, three people who witnessed the occasion firsthand reflected on its significance: Aljoša Asanović, who scored Croatia's first goal; American goalscorer Troy Dayak; and Mladen Vedriš, then president of the Croatian Football Federation. The discussion was moderated by Antonija Tušek of Croatians Online.

Celebrating Croatian-American sporting heritage

The second panel explored what it means to grow up between two cultures.

Participants included David Diehl, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants; former United States international footballer Ante Razov; baseball coach Kevin J. Maris, son of legendary player Roger Maris; and Steve Rukavina of the Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame. Documentary filmmaker Jack Baric moderated the discussion.

Diehl recalled celebrating a Super Bowl victory while wearing a Croatian scarf, describing the gesture as an expression of gratitude to his family and community, as well as an opportunity to honour his heritage on one of America's biggest sporting stages.

Building stronger sporting ties

Luke Salas, manager of Croatia's national baseball team and co-founder of Baseball for Good, presented his vision for connecting the experience of Croatian-American professionals with the talent of young players growing up in Croatia.

Another highlight was a conversation between Matthew McGrath and Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. She discussed the Croatian national football team's stay in Alexandria during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how the visit developed into a lasting friendship with the local community.

That relationship is now opening doors for closer ties between Alexandria and Osijek, with potential cooperation spanning sport, culture, education and business.

In the conference's closing panel, NK Osijek president Alexandra Végh and Thomas “Tommy” Park, executive director of the Alexandria Soccer Association, discussed a youth football exchange program. The initiative would combine training opportunities in Osijek with the chance for young American players to discover Slavonia and Croatian culture.

Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028

The final panel focused on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Croatian Olympic Committee president Josip Varvodić and representatives of sports federations and clubs discussed opportunities to exchange expertise, improve training conditions and strengthen links between Croatian athletes and the American education and sports systems.

The conference reinforced the potential of sport to deepen the relationship between Croatia and the United States, building on a shared history while creating new opportunities for future generations.

Croatians Online streamed the entire event live. A recording featuring the athletes' personal stories and the initiatives presented at the conference is available on the organisation's YouTube channel.