Thomas B. Stevenson, President of the American Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS) and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Ohio University Zanesville Campus and Abdul Karim Alaug of San’a’ University, recently spoke at Denison University’s Global Studies Seminar on Football Links Between the Two Yemens, 1970-1990: Sports Diplomacy, Invented Tradition, and Emergent Nationalism. From 1970-1990, the two Yemens were ideological opponents and twice the tensions and hostilities between them erupted in wars. There were few diplomatic overtures between the states with the exception of the exchange of soccer matches. While neither sustained nor widespread, inter-Yemen soccer matches were evidence of the peoples’ commonality. As such, these cross border contacts contributed to the development of a nationalism and national identity. Sporting events are therefore a natural form of soft diplomacy and can be used to forge similarities and downplay differences. Stevenson’s work not only illustrates the successful example of Yemen but demonstrates hope for the future.