Source: Politics<\/p>\n
John Malkovich, NBA champion Toni Kuko\u010d and the Croatian men\u2019s soccer legend Luka Modri\u0107 walk into a bar.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the start of a joke, that was the scene at the AKA Hotel in Alexandria, Va., Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
The Croatian National Tourist Board hosted a boozy reception for its country\u2019s soccer team as it competes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, drawing a mix of athletes, business leaders, diplomats and Croatian-American community members to the glitzy rooftop of the hotel just outside Washington.<\/p>\n
For Croatia, which reached the final in 2018 and semifinals in 2022, the tournament is about more than soccer. It is one of the country\u2019s most effective soft power tools, a chance for a nation of fewer than four million people to project its brand to a global audience and translate sporting success into tourism, investment and cultural influence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis opportunity is a huge push forward for a promotion of our country,\u201d said Kristjan Stani\u010di\u0107, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, in an interview.<\/p>\n
Stani\u010di\u0107 said the U.S. has become one of Croatia’s most important tourism markets, with American visitors continuing to rise since the pandemic. American travelers, he said, are increasingly discovering Croatia as a year-round destination rather than simply a shimmering summer stop along the Adriatic coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FIFA World Cup is the most popular sport[ing] event in the world,” Stani\u010di\u0107 said. \u201cThis will for sure make Croatia much, much more visible these days, and in these next few months. We’re open for everybody, especially for American tourists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Croatian officials also spent part of the evening highlighting the country’s growing roster of celebrity boosters. Tourism and Sports Minister Ton\u010di Glavina touted what he described as an all-star lineup of ambassadors for Croatian tourism, name-checking athletes like LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Kyle Kuzma as prominent supporters helping raise the country’s profile abroad.<\/p>\n
The celebrity connections continued on stage.<\/p>\n
Malkovich, who was granted his Croatian passport at the event, appeared alongside director Pete Radovich, a longtime CBS Sports executive, to promote an upcoming project with the Croatian National Tourist Board.<\/p>\n
Radovich recounted helping secure Croatian citizenship for football coach Bill Belichick before telling a story about a dinner with former NFL player Jason Kelce.<\/p>\n
After Radovich told Kelce he was from Croatia, the former NFL star initially guessed his family’s roots were from \u201cRomania, Hungary, somewhere around there.\u201d The next day, Radovich said, Kelce texted him: \u201cThanks for last night. Great conversation. By the way, I talked to my mom, we’re Croatian.\u201d Radovich said he immediately had a follow-up question: Why not apply for citizenship, too? (No word yet if Kelce has taken Radovich up on his offer.)<\/p>\n
As for Croatia’s chances on the field \u2014 they\u2019re slated to face England on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas \u2014 Stani\u010di\u0107 wasn’t lacking confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope there aren’t any injuries,\u201d he said. \u201cI think they’re the best. They’re going to the final.\u201d<\/p>\n