Alexandria approves friendship city tie with Osijek, days before Croatian sports conference comes to town

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to establish a one-year friendship city relationship with Osijek, Croatia, an arrangement that grew out of the Croatian national soccer team’s World Cup base camp in the city this summer.

The resolution authorizes City Manager James Parajon to enter a non-binding agreement on a one-year trial basis and directs him to convene a task force that will report to council at regular intervals.

Six days later, the Croatian Embassy will hold an all-day sports conference at The Satire, the Alexandria hotel where the team stayed. Mayor Alyia Gaskins is a panelist on a session titled “World Cup 2026: Alexandria & Osijek.”