World Cup officials ‘very impressed’ by Seattle bid to host tournament in 2026
Nov 1, 2021, 2:24 PM | Updated: 5:19 pm
A joint press conference between city leaders and FIFA officials. (SEA 2026)
(SEA 2026)
Seattle leaders presented their case to World Cup officials on Sunday, in hopes of bringing the tournament to Lumen Field in 2026.
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The group promoting Seattle’s bid — known officially as SEA 2026 — is being led by a six-member committee, which includes Sounders FC owner Adrian Hanauer, Mayor Jenny Durkan, and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani expressed Monday that he was “very impressed” by the group’s presentation delivered on Sunday.
“It was a very thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation that encapsulated what Seattle not only is, but really has become,” he said during a question and answer session with the media on Monday.
SEA 2026 also released a video over the weekend promoting Seattle’s bid, narrated by former U.S. national team goalkeeper and Sounders commentator Kasey Keller.
Seattle is ready. #SEA2026 pic.twitter.com/3o3GWoD6wo
— SEA 2026 ⚽️ (@Seattle_2026) October 31, 2021
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will operate as a joint bid by three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It will be the first iteration of the tournament to be hosted by three nations.
The United States will have 11 venues in different cities selected for the tournament and is offering 17 cities as possible choices. There will be three venues in Canada and two in Mexico. San Francisco and Los Angeles are among the other West Coast cities vying to host games in 2026.
According to Montagliani, the selection process for cities tagged to host will rely on a few different factors, ranging from a strong public transit system to adequate infrastructure to manage the inevitable influx of fans from across the globe. Most important, though, will be the presence of an appropriate venue to host the games themselves.
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“The stadium ultimately is where we play,” FIFA Chief Tournaments & Events Chair Colin Smith said. “Here we have to provide the best conditions possible for the best players in the world to perform at the highest level.”
Ideally, he said, host stadiums would feature real grass, and have adequate accommodations for members of the media, VIP guests, and fans alike. The selection committee will be factoring in travel distances for teams between host cities as well, in addition to summer weather conditions.
While Lumen Field uses artificial turf, Smith said he is hopeful that there would be discussions around installing a grass pitch should Seattle get tagged for hosting duties.
While it’s not a deal breaker, he also noted that it is “important” for a city to have previous experience hosting large-scale soccer tournaments.
