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Juneteenth Design
As hundreds of thousands of visitors and millions of viewers tune into Seattle during the Juneteenth Matchday, when Seattle hosts the United States Men's National Team vs Australia, we are presented with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact. This moment allows us to educate the world on the meaning of Juneteenth, tell stories of Black soccer legends, inspiring the next generation of Black soccer players, and uplift Black businesses and cultural organizations. The Juneteenth Match image will serve as an iconic visual legacy, uniting people across the globe to our city and state during the largest sporting event in history. The designs are both thought-provoking and celebratory, reflecting the energy of the FIFA World Cup while honoring the meaning and spirit of Juneteenth.
The Contest Process
In partnership with ARTE NOIR, we began by inviting Black artists and artists with deep connections to the Black experience to submit final design or portfolio with design concept to the SeattleFWC26 Local Organizing Committee for next year's United States Men's National Team World Cup match taking place on Juneteenth 2026. Designs are meant to inspire conversation, bridging World Cup energy with the powerful message of Black liberation and Seattle's culture of resistance, resilience, and commitment to racial equity. Whether through personal identity, lived experiences, or demonstrated allyship and work within Black communities, artists' perspective were essential in reaching a design that felt authentic, bold, and enduring.
All submissions were due in August 2025. The SeattleFWC26 Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee was then tasked with reviewing all complete entries. They selected two finalist designs that best captured Seattle's identity, while also sharing their interpretation of Juneteenth and its relevance. SeattleFWC26 will utilize the finalist's designs for Juneteenth Match purposes and will be incorporated into SeattleFWC26’s citywide celebration as our region prepares to host the world’s largest sporting event.
Disclaimer: The Juneteenth Design is an independent creation specifically for the SeattleFWC26 Local Organizing Committee and is not an official FIFA asset. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA.
Meet the Finalists
Damon Brown aka CreativeLou is a Seattle-based artist whose passion for creating began at an early age. Comic books were his first doorway into art. Their bold imagery and heroic storylines sparked his imagination and introduced him to the power of visual storytelling. Over time, he immersed himself in studying various art movements, illustration techniques, and urban art forms, learning how color, shape, story, and texture come together to create emotion and connection. Today, his work blends his love for classical art and contemporary illustration, bringing both tradition and imagination to life in vivid form.
About the Design
This piece celebrates the spirit of unity, resilience, and joy that lives at the intersection of soccer, Juneteenth, and community. Created in honor of the upcoming World Cup match taking place on Juneteenth, it draws inspiration from Seattle’s Black community and the Juneteenth flag, a symbol of new beginnings, breaking free, and claiming space in motion and spirit.
The composition captures two players mid-stride, breaking forward with purpose and energy. Their movement mirrors the essence of freedom, the power to rise, to connect, and to create something together. Behind them, the design nods to Seattle’s skyline and the dynamic curves of the Juneteenth starburst, representing hope, pride, and progress.
At its heart, this work celebrates artistry as liberation, how sport, culture, and community intertwine to remind us that freedom is not only won, but continuously lived, shared, and reimagined.
Samray Estifanos is a graphic designer and illustrator from Maple Valley, WA, who uses his art to communicate his Eritrean identity. His design philosophy centers around community, identity, and storytelling, using visual media to amplify underrepresented voices. As a graphic designer, he doesn't just design for aesthetics — he designs for representation. His work is grounded in purposeful visuals that speak to the identity and values of the communities he serves. He aims to translate personal stories into cohesive brand systems that reflect cultural richness, authenticity, and emotional connection.
About the Design
This design celebrates the 2026 FIFA World Cup Juneteenth match hosted by Seattle, through the lens of global unity and Seattle’s vibrant Black community. The focal point of this piece is hands holding a patterned soccer ball, the artwork on the ball symbolizes collective strength, heritage, and liberation. The Juneteenth flag rises above Mount Rainier and the Seattle skyline, merging the spirit of freedom with the energy of the world’s game. A condensed color palette to more warmer tones, is a result of the match being held in June and a desire to capture Seattle's beauty in the warmer months. The borders/details are inspired by African patterns and the movement of water reflects resilience, resistance, and renewal. The question still stands. How do I want to feel represented? By keeping Seattle’s cultural pride and local identity in mind, together we move closer to welcoming the world to our doorstep. These elements collectively honors Seattle’s ongoing commitment to racial equity and the enduring power of Black joy and pride.
