Not sleeping in Seattle

Located isolated on the Northwest edge of the United States, closer to Canada than any other World Cup stadium, it is not surprising if you miss Seattle when thinking about a destination for the World Cup. However, the "City of Emeralds" welcomes this tournament with open arms.

The World Cup poster pasted in bars, shops and inside the FIFA center contains many cultural features of the city, but the most eye-catching image is a whale jumping into the Pacific Ocean while still... kicking a ball. If that is a metaphor for Seattle "ignoring" the festival, then the reality is completely the opposite.

Strolling around the city

Unlike some other locations across the United States at this World Cup, Seattle City Stadium - often called Lumen Field - is extremely convenient for walking. Only 10 minutes from the central station and located right in the center of Seattle, this 60,000-seat stadium brings a more "European" feeling in its location.

Nearby is Elysian Fields, a center for celebration activities in June and July. When Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa, about 20 people were present here along with the club's personal founder, David Buhler. He expressed his excitement when the World Cup took place in his city. Buhler is a "veteran" of the tournament. After traveling around the world to watch the World Cup from the US in 1994 to Russia in 2018, this is the sixth World Cup he has directly attended. Although the number of viewers of the opening match is still modest, Buhler predicts the atmosphere will "explode" when fans from all over the world flock to Seattle.

The city will be the host of many teams, from Belgium's opening match to the exciting match between Iran and Egypt to close the group stage matches. According to Alex, a resident here, Seattle is a hospitable, livable city and - contrary to the prejudice about dependence on cars in the US - this is a "paradise" for public transport.

Earlier this year, the city made efforts to put into operation the second intercity train route, helping suburban areas easily access the center. While some other cities in the US charge up to 90USD to pick up and drop off fans to stadiums, Seattle's 3USD ticket is truly a "bargain".

Football tradition

There is no doubt that Seattle is a city proud of sports. The current NFL champion - Seattle Seahawks - also has its headquarters in Lumen Field. Meanwhile, both city teams Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign have cooperated on a transport barge, transforming it into a "floating sports oasis", giving fans a unique opportunity to watch the 2026 World Cup matches.

That legacy and the closeness surrounding the stadium make it the perfect place to welcome the US national team when they face Australia on June 19. The US's opening victory over Paraguay also received enthusiastic support. At Redmond - a suburb about 1 hour from downtown Seattle - a large screen and a DJ appeared, while local pubs were packed.

Seattle is also the US technology center. Microsoft is headquartered here, while TikTok and CrowdStrike also have large offices. The chain effect of this is a diverse cultural "hotpot", which is famous in American tradition, still vibrant and full of energy on the West Coast.

The whole city of Seattle began its own World Cup adventure.