Seattle Breaks Records as FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group Stage Closes, Welcoming the World and New Teams for the Knockout Round

Record crowds, transit activity, neighborhood celebrations, waterfront attendance and business impact underscore Seattle’s role as a world-class host city as it prepares to welcome new teams for its first knockout round match on Wednesday, July 1

SEATTLE, WA — On Monday, June 29, 2026, Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ celebrated record-breaking results across the city, as fans, residents, businesses, and visitors filled neighborhoods, public spaces, transit lines, and community gathering places throughout the group stage. From the waterfront to the Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, downtown, Seattle Stadium and light rail stations across the region, Seattle’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ has demonstrated the city’s ability to successfully welcome the world and its unmatched soccer fandom on the global stage. Now, as the group stage has finished, the city turns to welcome new teams for its first knockout round match at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday, July 1 between Belgium and Senegal.

Seattle’s role as a FIFA World Cup 2026 host city continues to draw international recognition, with multiple outlets ranking the city and Seattle Stadium among the top World Cup destinations in North America.

The Athletic ranked Seattle as the No. 1 stadium experience among FIFA World Cup 2026™ venues, while Sports Illustrated ranked Seattle No. 2 among all 16 host cities, citing the stadium’s atmosphere, downtown location, transit access, proximity to entertainment and the city’s broader matchday experience.

Seattle was also ranked the No. 1 U.S. host city for FIFA World Cup 2026™ fans by Action Network’s Fan Experience Index, placing third overall among all 16 host cities across North America based on factors including accessibility, affordability, atmosphere, safety, weather and hotel access.

Early data from public agencies, neighborhood partners, mobility providers, and event organizers shows Seattle breaking or approaching multiple records, including:

• The four official Seattle Fan Celebrations have welcomed over 750,000 fans and visitors between June 15 and June 27, creating central downtown hubs for match viewing, family programming, culture, retail and community connection.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has seen three of its busiest days of travel ever in the last 10 days, with approximately 605,000 travelers moving through SEA over those three days, and about 1.2 million passengers overall in the last three weeks.
• King County Metro and Sound Transit moved more than 1.1 million combined riders during the first two matches alone, including nearly 300,000 Metro bus boardings in a single day and a record 280,000 Link light rail riders on June 19, smashing the agency’s previous single-day ridership record of 220,000. Three of Sound Transit’s top five ridership days have been during the FIFA World Cup, underscoring the importance of public transit in connecting fans to matches, citywide programming and other major events across the region.
• Lime riders took more than 83,000 trips across Seattle on Friday, June 19th, making it Lime’s highest-ridership day ever in the city. Across Group Stage, riders took more than 675,000 Lime trips in Seattle, underscoring the role shared e-bikes and e-scooters played in helping residents and visitors move around the city during one of its busiest weeks of the summer.
• Waterfront Park recorded 625,293 total visits during the Group Stage of FIFA World Cup 2026 activity, from June 11 through June 27, representing 539,865 unique visitors. The Waterfront Park also set a new single-day attendance record on June 19 (Juneteenth community celebration), with 84,767 visits — the highest daily visitation since Waterfront Park opened in 2025.
• Pioneer Square recorded its highest single-day domestic foot traffic since the Downtown Seattle Association began recording numbers in 2019, welcoming 149,800 domestic visitors on June 19, with some businesses reporting sales up to ten times a typical day, outperforming even Taylor Swift concert weekend.
• Seattle’s Chinatown-International District set a Guinness World Record for the largest dim sum gathering, breaking the previous record held by Sydney, Australia, with 830 participants gathering on South King Street during CID Summer Kickoff and has seen a 10% increase in pedestrian traffic.

“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for years, and Seattle, our communities, and the state of Washington have risen to meet it,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26. “The records we’re celebrating today, in our neighborhoods, on our transit lines, at our airports, at our waterfront, and across our businesses, tell the story of a region that knows how to welcome the world and do it like no one else. But the numbers only capture part of it. What I’ll remember is the energy in the streets, the pride on people’s faces, and the sense that this region showed up as its very best self. We showed the world what it looks like when a community truly comes together. Our aim was to bring the best of Washington to the world, and it turns out the best of the world came to Washington. We’re building a legacy that will belong to this region long after the world goes home. We want the world to choose Washington, to live here, work here, play here, and learn here.”

"Washington is showing the world exactly who we are: welcoming, world-class, and ready for the biggest stage in sports,” said Governor Bob Ferguson. “These record-breaking numbers reflect more than a successful tournament. They reflect a state that knows how to bring people together, support our local businesses, and deliver an experience visitors will remember long after they return home. I'm proud of everyone across our state who has worked to make this moment possible, and I know the best is still ahead as Seattle hosts its first knockout match."

"This tournament belongs to all of King County,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “We've seen record transit ridership carry fans from across the region into the heart of the action, and we've seen neighborhoods from every corner of the county show up to welcome the world. What makes this moment special is that the benefits don't stop at the final whistle. The connections we're building, the businesses we're lifting up, and the pride our residents feel will stay with this region for years to come."

"Seattle is a soccer city and a sports city, and we are showing it on the world stage,” said Mayor of Seattle, Katie B. Wilson. “The records we are setting are real, and they’re bringing our communities together. We’re building stronger neighborhoods, seeing local businesses thrive, and showing that we’re a world-class city. That is a benefit Seattle and Washington will feel for years."

“Summer is the busiest time for SEA Airport and our maritime facilities. This tournament has shown the world the very best of Seattle and we’re so proud that includes SEA and our beautiful working waterfront,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner, Ryan Calkins. “We've welcomed some of the busiest travel days in the airport's history, moving fans from around the globe through with the warmth and efficiency our region is known for. The Port is proud to connect the world to our region. As an organization with global reach, the recognition Washington is earning on this global stage will keep paying dividends for our travelers, workers, and businesses for years to come.”

Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ programming continues in the days ahead, with additional matches, neighborhood activations, public viewing opportunities, cultural celebrations, and community events planned across the city.

Seattle’s hosting approach has centered on community, culture, access, sustainability, and legacy with activations across downtown and other key locations. As residents and visitors arrive for large events, SeattleFWC26 encourages them to stay and explore neighborhoods like the Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, SODO, Central District, and Capitol Hill, with an event calendar available at: https://www.seattlefwc26.org/events/event-calendar.

As the tournament continues, Seattle’s early results offer a clear message: the city is ready for the world stage, and the first knockout round match on Wednesday, July 1 will write its next chapter.

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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

Mari Horita, Board Chair, Downtown Seattle Association Board

"Downtown Seattle is exactly what you want it to be right now: full of people, full of joy and energy, and showing the world what this city does best. Visitors and residents are filling our streets, eating at our restaurants, and rediscovering the public spaces that make downtown worth visiting. This is what happens when a city plans for a moment like this and delivers."

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Kelly Saling, Chief Business Officer, Visit Seattle

“Seattle is shining brightly on the global stage. This is what we dreamed of when we began the bid process all those years ago – an opportunity to show soccer fans around the world that our city is vibrant, surrounded by beautiful nature, welcoming, and full of distinct neighborhoods and experiences. In addition to the volumes of visitors we’re seeing for the matches, the exposure from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will drive visitors to our city for years to come.”

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Tuyen Than, Executive Director, CIDBIA

"This neighborhood has fed and welcomed Seattle for generations, and last week the whole world got to see why. Thousands of people came to the Chinatown-International District, ate together, and helped us set a Guinness World Record for the largest dim sum gathering. That kind of energy matters for our small businesses, our residents, and the culture that keeps this district alive. The World Cup brought the spotlight, and we hope everyone who discovered the neighborhood this weekend keeps coming back long after the final whistle."

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Lisa Howard, Executive Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square

“All of us in Pioneer Square have been so proud to welcome unprecedented numbers of fans into Seattle’s original neighborhood during the World Cup. It has been a joy to see people from around the world experiencing our restaurants, small businesses, public spaces, architecture and lively streets that make this neighborhood so special. This global moment has been a powerful reminder of Pioneer Square’s role as one of Seattle’s great gathering places.”

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Erin Goodman, Executive Director, SODO BIA

"Since the start of the games, we've been encouraged by how smoothly things have gone in SODO. While the economic impact has varied across businesses, we've received positive feedback from local business owners about the limited disruption to their day-to-day operations. The strong collaboration between the Seattle FWC26 Local Organizing Committee, the SODO BIA, and other community partners has helped our district continue serving businesses, workers, and visitors alike. We're proud of how the SODO community has risen to the occasion and grateful for the partnership that has made this success possible."  

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Hewan Teshome, Board Co-Chair, Friends of Waterfront Park

“From the beginning, Waterfront Park was envisioned as Seattle’s front porch—a place where people could come together in everyday life and for the moments that define a city.  Seeing 85,000 people gather here on Juneteenth, as Seattle welcomed the world, was a powerful reminder of why public spaces matter. We built Waterfront Park for moments like this—and the city showed up.”

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Dow Constantine, CEO, Sound Transit

“Our record-setting ridership on June 19 was a proud moment for Sound Transit and our region. The combination of World Cup excitement and other major events that day showcased the strength of our network. I’m deeply grateful to our employees and partners for delivering exceptional service during this historic time for our region.”

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Fred Mendoza, Board Chair, Washington State Public Stadium Authority

"When we set out to build this stadium over two decades ago, we imagined a place that could hold the biggest moments in sports and bring our entire region together. Watching the world arrive at Lumen Field for the FIFA World Cup is the fullest realization of that vision yet. This is what we built it for: a global stage in the heart of our city, welcoming fans from every corner of the world. I could not be prouder of what this stadium, and this region, are showing the world right now.”

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Joe Nguyễn, President & CEO, Seattle Metro Chamber

“The World Cup is giving millions of people the chance to experience firsthand what makes our region so special, from our vibrant neighborhoods and stunning natural beauty to the incredible businesses, innovators, and people who call this place home. It's a chance to show the world what makes Seattle unique while creating new opportunities for investment, tourism, and economic growth that will benefit our region long after the final match.”

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Zach Hensley, Vice President of Operations, Seattle Seahawks and General Manager, Lumen Field

"Hosting the FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field is truly our promise delivered, fulfilling a vision years in the making and marking a historic milestone for our city. Seeing the excitement for our stadium from fans around the world, including ranking among the top of all World Cup venues for overall match experience and atmosphere, has been incredible to witness."

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Hayden Harvey, Director of Government Relations West, Lime

“Lime is proud to have helped Seattle move during one of its busiest weeks of the summer so far, providing a record-breaking 83,000 rides during the USMNT match and more than 675,000 rides over the course of the group stage We were excited to see people using Lime to avoid congestion, connect to transit, get to fan events and reach the stadium district more easily, without adding more cars to already busy streets. Lime worked closely with SDOT and local stakeholders to support safe, organized and reliable operations throughout the week, and on and off the pitch, Seattle showed what a host city can look like at its best,” said Hayden Harvey, Director of Government Relations, West at Lime.”

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Malcolm Rogel, Vice President of Fan Experience, Seattle Mariners

“Victory Hall has become something truly special during the World Cup, bringing together fans from across Seattle and around the globe. We’ve welcomed thousands of supporters during group stage watch parties, and the energy and passion on display have been unlike anything we’ve seen before. Sports have a powerful way of unifying people, and we’re proud that Victory Hall serves as a gathering space for our community.”

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Courtney Carter, Chief Revenue Officer, Seattle Sounders FC & Seattle Reign FC

"Seattle has shown the world what it means to be in community with each other and fall in love with this game. Since June 11, the Sounders and Reign have hosted more than 40 free and ticketed events at Pier 62 and the connected Barge.  From FIFA World Cup live viewings to free play mornings for local kids, Seattle Soccer Celebration has welcomed over 450,000 visitors and media from five continents to our waterfront. This is what's possible when a city invests in the beautiful game: not only a celebration of soccer, but a celebration of Seattle itself. We’re proud to have helped build this moment in our city, and excited to continue the welcoming of the world through Seattle’s final two hosted matches in the tournament’s Knockout Round.”

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Gretchen Lenihan, Seattle Center Lead, Seattle Fan Celebration

“Seattle Center has been home to a wide range of cultural communities throughout the group stage. The Armory and Mural Amphitheatre have welcomed fans from around the world — from a passionate turnout of Mexican supporters at the opening match, to an 8,000-strong crowd cheering on Team USA, to a visit from 200 Japanese students, and even an impromptu march of about 50 Argentinian fans. We love seeing families and fan groups of all sizes use Seattle Center as their global living room, coming together as a community to cheer on their teams.”

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Know Before You Go to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match at Seattle Stadium

On match days, downtown Seattle will be one of the most transit-rich environments in the city’s history, and Seattle Stadium will be easiest to reach by light rail, bus, foot, bike, and water. Seattle Fan Celebrations and match day transportation plans, including light rail stations, shuttle routes, street closure windows, and rideshare zone maps, are available at Seattlefwc26.org/transportation.

Fans are encouraged to join the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Fan Info WhatsApp Channel for Seattle to receive real-time updates, travel guidance, and matchday information curated by FIFA and SeattleFWC26 before and during the tournament.

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About Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ 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 2026™. 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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