The World Cup of peacebuilders

July-August 2026

In a world that often feels divided—(Em dash intended)…

It’s a phrase that screams AI generated (it is), but the confronting truth is that right now, it’s not untrue. There are more conflicts today than at the height of World War II, and the numbers are rising exponentially.

Last month, we were fortunate enough to catch up with The University of Queensland’s Rotary Peace Centre Director, Sebastian Kaempf, to discuss the current world climate and how Rotary can help build peace in a shifting global order (see page 46).

To quote Seb: “We are living in a really terrible period of history.” Not a great outlook coming from an Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies at the top of his game.

But to also quote Seb: “War is not an inevitable outcome. Wars can always be prevented. There are always non-violent alternatives.”

Fast-forward two weeks and I, like approximately 4.78 million other Australians, am barely grazing the edge of my seat as our mighty Socceroos (we love you Beach) give their all to take out Türkiye in the 2026 World Cup. Two once-lethal enemies united in a game that has, in recent years, united the world.

During one of the breaks, an advert catches my eye as I try to catch my breath (and I’m basically athlemophobic… go figure!).

Did you know salsa was invented when Puerto Ricans took Cuban rhythms to New York?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was born when the Japanese took Jūdō to Brazil.

When North African frying traditions met Spanish dough, Spain made the churro.

After Jamaicans took their sound systems to the UK, the world got punk.

(…Cut to evocative imagery of citizens across the globe celebrating their countries victories…)

And this? This is what the world gets when 48 nations meet to play one beautiful game.

“The world is meant to meet.”

Insert mind-blowing emoji (thanks AI). Forty-eight countries united for one beautiful purpose. Sound familiar? “A global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers (across 221 countries) who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.”

We have been enabling the world to meet for more than 120 years… we are basically the World Cup of peacebuilders!

The Australia v Türkiye game was poignant on another level, too. My dad had not long returned from an ANZAC tour to Gallipoli. The thing that struck him most was the genuine respect, camaraderie and love the Turks have for us Aussies and Kiwis. “It was more than an understanding and appreciation of a brutal shared past,” he said. “They treated us as brothers. We are brothers.”

So that, perhaps, may one day be the silver lining. Brotherhood, peace, understanding and learning born out of a terrible period in history. With the help of a global network of peacebuilders – a world that is no longer divided.

Meagan Martin
Editor, Rotary Down Under