SeattleFWC26 Honors Juneteenth ahead of USA vs. Australia Match on the National Holiday

SEATTLE, WA – Today, the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26) held a press conference at the Seattle International Media Center (SIMC) to uplift and honor Juneteenth and related programming ahead of the USA vs. Australia FIFA World Cup™ Group Stage match on Friday, June 19, the national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

The local organizing committee hosted a press event with King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, joined by representatives from SeattleFWC26's Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee (JMAC), Black Players for Change, BlackPast.org, and the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), along with civic leaders, a former U.S. Men's National Team player, and Seattle-based cultural organizations, to honor Black history, Seattle's Black community, and the historical significance of the day.

Following the event, Seattle’s first Black City Attorney, Erika Evans, accompanied the SIMC's Juneteenth excursion at the Northwest African-American Museum which currently features an exhibit on the 1968 Summer Olympics, highlighting a powerful connection between athletes from the United States and Australia. City Attorney Evans’ connection to the exhibition is personal: her grandfather, Lee Evans, won two gold medals at the 1968 Olympics and joined the iconic podium protest for racial justice, and her grandmother helped organize the human rights demonstrations at those Games.

Juneteenth Match Day

Once Seattle learned it would host the USMNT’s Group Stage match on Juneteenth, SeattleFWC26 saw an opportunity to lean into the significance of the date. In response, the organization formed the Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee (JMAC), a dedicated group tasked with ensuring that Seattle's role in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ authentically reflects and uplifts the city's Black community.

Through collaborations with organizations including Black Players for Change and BlackPast.org, and original artwork commissioned from local Black artists Damon Brown aka CreativeLou and Samray Estifanos, SeattleFWC26 has supported programming intended as a lasting reflection of the inclusion and community connection at the heart of its legacy.

SeattleFWC26 Juneteenth Match Day Webpage

SeattleFWC26 Juneteenth Celebration at Pier 58

SeattleFWC26 Juneteenth Design Contest

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“From the moment we were bidding to be a host city over eight years ago, inclusion was a cornerstone of how we presented our region," said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26. “We were honored to host a Juneteenth match, and we knew immediately we had a responsibility to maximize the moment and create a lasting legacy. When we learned the USMNT was coming here, that commitment only deepened. We created the Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee to make sure our hosting of the World Cup authentically reflects our community. The partnerships and programming on display this week reflect Washington at its best, forward thinking, collaborative, and intentional about making sure the world understands why Juneteenth is a national holiday and celebrates the emancipation of Black Americans, and the universal hope for freedom.”

"Welcome to King County, and welcome to Juneteenth," said Girmay Zahilay, King County Executive. “Friday is a day for our entire region to reflect on the history of Juneteenth and on our ongoing work to build a more equitable King County. Hosting the national team at the world's biggest sporting event gives us a powerful platform to share that story, and to highlight the partners across our community who are working every day to expand equitable access to opportunity, to public spaces, and to moments like this one."

"Seattle has always been a city that shows up for its communities, and this Juneteenth will be no exception," said Katie B. Wilson, Seattle Mayor. “We're proud that the world will see Seattle not just as a host city for the World Cup, but as a city that recognizes the significance of hosting the US national team on Juneteenth and the contributions of our Black community to the culture and character of our region."

"I want to thank the Local Organizing Committee, the Northwest African American Museum, and the Black Players for Change for elevating the stories of Black athletes and leaders who have helped shape our country, our communities, and our history," said Erika Evans, Seattle City Attorney . "For me these stories are not something I just read about in books. It is my family history. My grandfather, Lee Evans, was a two-time gold medalist at the 1968 Olympic Games and a founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights. Alongside Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and others, he helped build a movement that challenged racism in sports and in society. Collectively these athletes called upon America to live up to its promises. More than fifty years later, I see that same spirit in the Black Players for Change. Although Olympic Project for Human Rights and the Black Players for Change were born in different generations, they are married by common belief: that athletes have the power and the responsibility to use their platform to make a difference. To challenge racism in sports and in society. Both movements recognized that sports are about more than competition. They can be a vehicle for dignity, justice, and lasting change. Happy Juneteenth. Go Team USA."

“When we learned the USMNT would play here on Juneteenth, it felt less like a scheduling coincidence and more like an invitation,” said Marcus Harrison Green, SeattleFWC26 JMAC Co-Chair. “Our committee’s job was to make sure Seattle answered that invitation the right way, using the moment to give the world a history lesson, inspiring the next generation of Black athletes, and uplifting programming that’s built by and for our Black community, not just programming about it. What you’re seeing this week is the result of that work.”

"When I was coming up, there weren't many of us on the national team, and the path wasn't always easy," said Tony Sanneh, former USMNT player. “Seeing the players who took the field last week and will take the field this Friday, and seeing a city take the time to recognize Juneteenth this way, tells me how far the game — and this country — has come. I hope this week's program shows young Black players that there's a place for them in this sport, and that their stories matter."

"Black Players for Change was built on the idea that soccer can be a vehicle for real change in our communities," said Allen Hopkins Jr., Executive Director of Black Players for Change. “Our work with SeattleFWC26, from youth clinics to our education and inspiration campaign, is about making sure this World Cup leaves something behind for Black players and Black communities here in Seattle, long after the final whistle."

"BlackPast.org exists to make sure the full history of Black America is accessible to everyone, and Juneteenth is one of the most important entry points into that history," said Jamila Taylor, Founding Board Member of BlackPast.org and Washington State Representative of the 30th Legislative District. “We're proud to collaborate with SeattleFWC26 and we hope everyone who visits Seattle this week takes a moment to learn more about the history being honored here."

"The Northwest African American Museum has always been a gathering place for our community's stories, and Juneteenth week was a perfect time to bring those stories to a global audience," said Brandon Bird, President and CEO of NAAM. “We are excited to encourage visitors to explore the Black-owned businesses and cultural institutions that make the Seattle community what it is."

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Additional Juneteenth celebrations in Seattle include:

A Juneteenth Weekend Celebration - Freedom + Futbol, including a USA vs Australia watch party, hosted by ARTE NOIR

Juneteenth - The Sound of Connection, hosted by NAAM

Juneteenth Freedom Fest, hosted by Africatown Community Land Trust

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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.  Learn more about the Stadium Code of Conduct, prohibited items, and other important pre-game information regarding Seattle Stadium. 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.

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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