Got any plans for summer 2026? Cancel them! The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced today that Seattle has won its bid to be a host city for the 2026 World Cup. This means that Seattle, along with several other cities, will get to host matches for the men’s tournament at Lumen Field. This is a historic win for Seattle and is the culmination of several years of hard work by SEA 2026 (Seattle’s local organizing committee), Seattle’s hospitality industry, and many private and public agencies.
It’s sure to be an exciting time in Seattle. The exact amount and dates of the matches hosted by Seattle will not be announced until June 2023, but we recommend blocking off your calendar for the entire summer now just in case. You won’t want to miss this! There’s nothing like an international celebration of soccer at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
SEA 2026 highlighted three primary principles in its bid: Soccer, Innovation, and Everyone. They pointed to Seattle’s passionate soccer fan base, its history of celebrating innovation at events such as the 1962 World’s Fair, and its inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
This massive event will be an economic boon to Seattle. According to Visit Seattle, all hotels within a two-hour drive of Seattle will be fully booked during the period of the matches. It is expected that participating cities will end up with an estimated net gain of $90-480 million and have a total of 40,000 jobs be supported by this event.
“This is perhaps the biggest day for the sport of soccer in the history of our region,” said SEA 2026 Chair and Seattle Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “To be awarded the FIFA World Cup is not only momentous for the city of Seattle, but for all of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Crossing the finish line to become one of the host cities for this global event is a testament to the hard work of countless people.”
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest yet, with a record-breaking 48 participating countries. It is also the first FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries. The other host cities are listed below:
Your #FIFAWorldCup 2026 Host Cities:
🇺🇸Atlanta
🇺🇸Boston
🇺🇸Dallas
🇲🇽Guadalajara
🇺🇸Houston
🇺🇸Kansas City
🇺🇸Los Angeles
🇲🇽Mexico City
🇺🇸Miami
🇲🇽Monterrey
🇺🇸New York / New Jersey
🇺🇸Philadelphia
🇺🇸San Francisco Bay Area
🇺🇸Seattle
🇨🇦Toronto
🇨🇦Vancouver— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2022
You can join all of Seattle in celebrating the announcement tonight, June 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pier 62! The whole community is invited but keep in mind that capacity is limited. Fans are encouraged to use public transportation and arrive early.