A big sigh of relief was immediately followed by shrieking signs of joy and adulation moments after Seattle was announced as one of 16 host sites for the 2026 World Cup. The beautiful game will indeed be becoming to the Pacific Northwest after some hard lobbying by the Seattle bid group dubbed SEA 2026.
The group hosted FIFA’s selection committee last fall and pitched the majestic beauty of the Emerald City. Along with beauty SEA, 2026 convinced the selection committee that the infrastructure of Seattle was big and efficient enough to host such a prestigious event. That included transportation, security, hotels, and athletic facilities.
BIG RETURN FOR EFFORT
When the Sounders hosted Pumas for the CONCACAF Champions League the SEA 2026 big committee invited the FIFA Selection for one more peak. Fair to say 68,000 screaming fans at Lumen Field cheering on the Rave Green to a historic 3-0 win was the icing on the cake.
On Thursday SEA 2026’s five-year efforts paid off.
The dollar return for the North American host cities is estimated at $480 million per city. But this was never about money. It was an opportunity for Seattle to show that it is an international city.
“This is perhaps the biggest day for the sport of soccer in the history of our region. 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 overall. Crossing the finish line to become one of the selected host cities for this global event is a testament to the hard work of countless people. To the many individuals and agencies that were involved, on behalf of our entire local organizing committee, I would like to offer a sincere thank you and congratulations! We cannot wait to host FIFA World Cup matches at Lumen Field in 2026.”
Sounders FC Majority Owner Adrian Hanuer
The 2026 tournament is the first-ever combined bid to feature three nations, with the United States, Mexico, and Canada hosting the event in the summer of 2026. FIFA World Cup 2026™ is the first tournament to feature an expanded field of 48 international teams, with 60 matches being played in the United States, including contests at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
FINAL GROUPINGS
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