100 Days to Go!

100 Days to Go: Seattle Marks FIFA World Cup Milestone with Community Updates and Monorail Column Unveiling

Mayor Wilson, SeattleFWC26, and community leaders mark the milestone with a monorail design display spanning 48 nations

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SEATTLE, WA – On Tuesday, March 4th , the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26) and the Office of Mayor Katie Wilson marked 100 days until the FIFA World Cup 2026™ kicks off on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 with the unveiling of the first installation of a 53 column Seattle Monorail activation.  The activation, which will remain on display through September 2026, served as the backdrop for a broader update on the sweeping community experience work underway to make Seattle's hosting of six FIFA World Cup matches a landmark moment for the region.

"Seattle has always been a city that leads through innovation, and that's exactly the spirit we're bringing to this moment,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26. “In 100 days, we will welcome the world — and when the tournament ends, our city and state will be stronger for it. We're proud of the legacy work that will outlast the tournament: the blind soccer hub, the mini-pitches, and the community partnerships. When the world comes to Seattle, they'll see a city that doesn't just host it leads."

“With 100 days to go, Seattle is ready to show the world who we are,” said Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “Soccer has a powerful way of bringing people together across borders and cultures, and we are proud to host that spirit of unity here in our city. We can’t wait for visitors to experience the energy, creativity, and hospitality that define our city, and we’re excited to host celebrations and watch parties that make the entire city part of this historic event.”  

Celebrating 100 Days to go

SeattleFWC26 unveiled the first phase of a 53-column monorail art installation that connects downtown Seattle to Seattle Center. Forty-eight columns honor each of the qualifying nations competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026™, each highlighting that nation's flag. Additional columns will feature the winning designs from SeattleFWC26's Juneteenth and Pride community design contests, a special collaboration with the Seattle Children's Therapeutic Art Program, and a design by an Artist from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and all columns feature a background by Official FIFA World Cup 2026™  Seattle Host City Poster Seattle Host City Poster artist Shogo Ota. As of today, 33 columns are installed and on display. The remaining columns are expected to be completed in early April, following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off tournament. The full installation will remain on display through September 2026.

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16-Host Cities Illumination

Local iconic structures in the Seattle region are joining in the 100 Days to Go celebration lighting up with pride. Look to the night sky for Seattle’s purple and gold colors from Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, Space Needle, and the Seattle Convention Center Arch. These local icons join buildings across the nation in 16-host cities in USA, Canada and Mexico who all are marking the 100 Days until the world unites for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

“As the first and only Sovereign Indigenous Nation to be an Official Host City Supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Bill Sterud, Chairman of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. “The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is excited to welcome the world to our beautiful region in just 100 days. From the matches in Seattle to our Pow-Wow and Stick Games at our Tribal Administration building, we can’t wait to show guests from every nation all that our generous and welcoming people have to offer."

"Following the conclusion of a thrilling Seahawks postseason, Lumen Field is now in the final weeks of venue readiness including the installation of a world‑class pitch, updated seating configurations, enhanced security and logistics, and new comprehensive staging areas," said Zach Hensley, Seahawks Vice President of Operations and General Manager of Lumen Field. "We are proud of the tremendous amount of collaboration across the city to ensure we deliver an unforgettable World Cup experience for the players, fans, and the entire community."  

“Visit Seattle is excited to stand with our local organizing committee and leaders across the city and state to celebrate this once-in-a-generation opportunity to show off our city on the global stage,” said Tammy Canavan, President and CEO of Visit Seattle. “We want Seattle to stand out as the best host city in the tournament, from our fandom and fervor for the matches and beyond to our natural beauty, diverse display of neighborhoods, culinary excellence, and creative spirit, exemplified by these murals. Visitors will see what makes Seattle special; driving repeat visits for years to come.”  

“While we’re just 100 days to go until downtown Seattle welcomes the world for the FIFA World Cup, the excitement has been building across our city for years,” said Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes. “We’re preparing to host more than 700,000 visitors from around the globe — a moment that’s required thoughtful planning, partnerships, and investments in our urban core, including our new central waterfront, already being recognized as one of the best new urban spaces in the country. We can’t wait to show off one of the most vibrant, walkable downtowns in America and celebrate this historic event together.”  

“The energy and dedication we see across our communities reflect a collective commitment to welcoming the world with intention and excellence,” said Lynnette Buffington, Chief of Staff, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “We are deeply grateful to support this work in partnership with so many leaders, organizations, and neighborhoods across the state. Today’s celebration is a testament to what collaboration makes possible—and to the strength and spirit that will define Seattle on the global stage.”  

"For over sixty years, Seattle Center Monorail has served as a vital connection between downtown and Seattle Center, and we are thrilled to see its columns proudly adorned with the flags of the qualifying nations competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026™," said Megan Ching, President of Seattle Monorail Services. "We  are honored to see its historic columns transformed into a global gallery of flags. It is a privilege to welcome the world to Seattle as fans travel through this vibrant display of international unity."

“SEA Airport is fully prepared to welcome the world,” said Wendy Reiter, SEA Airport Managing Director. “We’re delivering a coordinated, airport wide effort to ensure a safe, efficient, and enjoyable experience for every World Cup traveler. Our teams and partners across the region have been working in lockstep to streamline the journey from arrival to onward travel, supported by strengthened security, enhanced wayfinding, and a terminal ready to reflect the excitement of the moment. We’re confident in our readiness and proud to showcase Seattle on the global stage.”

Additional FIFA World Cup 2026 Seattle^TM updates

Safety and Security

Over the next 100 days, SeattleFWC26 is working closely with FIFA, First & Goal, Inc., federal, state, regional and local governmental agencies, and community partners to advance a focused series of safety and security initiatives designed to strengthen match-day readiness and regional coordination. This includes operational workshops with the City of Seattle and stadium partners to refine unified operations surrounding the stadium footprint, fan celebration sites, and designated march routes. These sessions will validate roles, resource alignment, traffic and crowd management strategies, and life-safety contingencies to ensure seamless execution on event days. In parallel, SeattleFWC26 and its stakeholders are developing a multi-agency exercise to support counter–unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) operations during the tournament, in partnership with city, county, state, and federal partners. This exercise will test detection, coordination, legal authorities, and response protocols to ensure a layered and well-integrated security posture across all jurisdictions.

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Mobility and Transportation

Transportation agencies at the state, regional, and local levels are wrapping up their operational strategies to address traffic controls and expand services in anticipation of the tournament. Earlier this month ORCA introduced the Tap to Pay feature, which enables riders across the Puget Sound region to conveniently pay for transit using credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallets. Sound Transit recently announced its plan for increased matchday service across Link Light Rail, Tacoma’s T Line, and Sounder commuter train. King County Metro will be boosting bus service across the region to keep both fans and commuters moving smoothly, with special shuttles and incentives to help people choose transit and reduce traffic. Stay tuned for more details on how Metro will keep the region moving. The Seattle Department of Transportation has previously released information about its temporary pause on planned construction to minimize disruption during the tournament. Washington State Department of Transportation will pick up the Revive I-5 work zone across the Ship Canal Bridge and minimize construction impacts as part of a statewide strategy to reduce traffic disruptions during this event.

Comprehensive public education campaigns will be launched by the end of the month to begin informing residents, businesses, and visitors about the expected impacts. These campaigns will intensify in May, ensuring everyone is well-prepared for the three-week period between the first and last FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Seattle.  

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Seattle Fan Celebrations

SeattleFWC26 and its partners announced a distributed approach to fan celebrations that will bring free, public FIFA World Cup experiences across the city beginning June 11. Celebration sites along Seattle's Unity Loop will include Seattle Center, Waterfront Park, Pacific Place, and Victory Hall in SODO, all accessible by public transit. The model is designed to spread economic benefits across neighborhoods and ensure that fans from every corner of the city can share in the excitement. For more information, visit www.seattlefwc26.org/seattle-fan-celebrations.

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Official Fan Zone Locations Announced Across Washington State

The FIFA World Cup experience extends well beyond Seattle. Official locations were released last week for each of the nine fan zones across Washington State: Bellingham, Bremerton, Everett, Olympia/Lacey, Spokane, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Yakima. These fan zones will bring the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to communities throughout the state, offering fans the opportunity to experience the game-day energy together. For more information, visit www.seattlefwc26.org/news/announcing-official-fan-zone-locations-across-washington-state.

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Seattle to host U.S. Men’s Blind Soccer friendly

Legacy preparations continue for SeattleFWC26 and the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) partnership to host the first U.S. Men’s Blind Soccer international friendly on May 23-24. The friendly will take place at Interbay in collaboration with Ballard FC. The friendly follows last year's landmark partnership designating Seattle as the Pacific Northwest Regional Hub for U.S. Blind Soccer. The SeattleFWC26 and USABA collaboration also includes delivery of a dedicated blind soccer pitch in the region. For more information about the hub, visit www.seattlefwc26.org/news/usaba-and-seattlefwc26-announce-regional-hub-designation.

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RAVE Foundation continues work to deliver its 52 Free Soccer Mini-Pitches to Washington State by End of Tournament

As part of the SeattleFWC26 legacy commitment, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Reign FC, and RAVE Foundation are working toward building 52 soccer mini-pitches for free play across Washington State by the end of the year. This initiative includes pitches at tribal communities, public schools, and community parks across the state, using the FIFA World Cup as a catalyst to expand free play opportunities for youth in underserved communities long after the final whistle. For more information, visit www.soundersfc.com/news/sounders-fc-reign-fc-and-rave-foundation-announce-plans-to-unveil-14-additional-soccer-mini-pitches-for-free-play-in-washington-by-end-of-2025.

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Ticket Sales

The Last-Minute Sales Phase will begin in April. Fans interested in more information can visit FIFA.com/tickets, the official and preferred source of tickets for the tournament.

About Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ Local Organizing Committee SeattleFWC26 is the local organizing committee for Seattle's participation as one of the 16 Host Cities selected for the FIFA World Cup 26™. As a not-for-profit organization, SeattleFWC26's vision is to foster a lasting legacy for our region, guided by the spirit of soccer, innovation, and inclusion. To keep up to date on the latest news and involvement opportunities with SeattleFWC26, please visit https://www.seattlefwc26.org.

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