Seattle’s ‘World Cup Host City Final Draw Watch Party’ to be held on Capitol Hill
World Cup fans on Capitol Hill in 2014
Seattle’s organizing committee for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will be on Capitol Hill Friday with a few local soccer legends for a Final Draw watch party as the groupings for the global soccer tournament get mostly banged out.
Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 announced it is holding its Friday watch party at Capitol Hill’s Stoup Brewing:
WHAT: Seattle FIFA World CupHost City Final Draw Watch Party
WHO: Local soccer legends, Community leaders and officials of the SeattleFWC26 Local Organizing Committee. Speakers for the event will be available for comment and will include:
This spring, a few more teams will qualify and the full groups will be fleshed out but Friday will be a big day for the 2026 cup. With an expanded field, 48 nations will be split into 12 groups of four for the group stages when all is said and done.
For Seattle soccer fans who have been savvy and lucky enough to score tickets, Friday’s draw will help sort what teams will take to the pitch as Lumen Field is slated to host six games starting June 11th. During the tournament, Lumen will be officially renamed “Seattle Stadium” to comply with FIFA regulations.
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted in an unusual three-way partnership across cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Seattle’s bid to take part as a host was hatched in the Durkan administration. Tourism officials hope the Seattle games will draw around 750,000 fans and generate $929 million. The forecast expects 50 to 70% of the visitors will be international and first time visitors. Seattle’s hotel capacity is expected to reach 100%.
As for Friday’s draw and watch party, it is part of what will be a wave of hype and marketing leading up to the World Cup.
The city said Tuesday it is also spending $1.3 million on an initiative to activate spaces and hold community parties around the World Cup led by community groups in each city council district. The District 3 hosts will be Central District arts space ARTE NOIR, queer event curator BeautyBoiz, and Black arts and culture nonprofit LANGSTON.
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