Luka Dončić named LA Community Ambassador for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Slovenian basketball star Luka Dončić has been named a Community Ambassador for Los Angeles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the city's host committee has announced.

Dončić, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, is well known for his love of football, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"I'm proud to serve as a community ambassador of the World Cup in Los Angeles," said the 26-year-old combo guard, who has been playing for the Los Angeles Lakers since the bombshell trade in February.

Dončić, who will join Magic Johnson on the list of community ambassadors in Los Angeles, embodies the international spirit of the FIFA World Cup 26 and the vibrant energy of Los Angeles, FIFA described the Ljubljana native in a statement.

"The World Cup is the biggest event in sports, so I'm very excited. I've always watched soccer since I was a kid. I watch it now. It's a part of my life for sure," added Dončić, who in fact played football before committing to basketball.

The superstar praised LA as a very nice city:

"We've got a lot of culture. Soccer is getting more and more popular in the US, especially in LA. So I think the culture right here, because of that, is the perfect city to host it."

Next summer's World Cup will be hosted in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including Los Angeles.

Whether or not Dončić will have the chance to also welcome Slovenia to the tournament will become clearer after they take on Kosovo and Sweden in must-win qualifying matches in mid-November. They currently sit third in Group B on three points, trailing leaders Switzerland (10) and second-placed Kosovo (7), while Sweden prop up the table with a single point.

Photo: Xinhua/STA