Seattle is celebrating its historic winning bid to be a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and get the chance to highlight the wonders of the Emerald City to sports fans and global travellers.
The Pacific Northwest city is one of 16 host cities in North America that will stage matches for the men’s tournament in 2026 and the announcement marks a decade-long bid campaign for the world game.
Seattle is regarded as one of the top US soccer cities and Visit Seattle and the Seattle Sports Commission also celebrate the significance of this news for local sports fans.
Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO and SEA 2026 Bid Committee Co-Chair Beth Knox said the city has been preparing for this moment for more than 10 years.
“The announcement marks the end of a five-year, labour-of-love journey in communicating to FIFA what we knew from the very beginning: we are ready to host the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Ms Knox said.
“Seattle brings a passionate soccer fan base, world-class facilities and a community dedicated to creating memorable experiences for fans.”
“This announcement represents one of the most significant moments in Seattle’s proud history as we cement our spot as an all-time great international sports destination,” added Visit Seattle President & CEO Tammy Blount-Canavan.
“Our sales team and hotel partners are leading an extraordinary feat to secure over 10,000 hotel rooms on peak nights across the region, which ultimately had a pivotal role in our selection as a host city.”
Visit Seattle anticipates all hotels within a two-hour drive of Seattle will be fully occupied during the tournament with the number of matches and rounds in Seattle expected to be announced in June 2023.
In a first, FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a 48-team tournament hosted by three nations.
The 1994 FIFA World Cup (the last in the US) was the most financially successful in the tournament’s history, breaking World Cup average attendance records with nearly 69,000 spectators per game, an achievement that still stands today.
For more info, head to sea2026.com