Delaying Seattle World Cup games? State senator fears immigration policies could affect dates

An influential state senator says the president’s immigration policies could have a profound impact on when Seattle hosts several World Cup games next year.

Democratic Washington Senator Manka Dhingra made quite the statement Wednesday during a weekly Democratic press conference. She was asked if the state will help financially with World Cup preparations.

“This could have been an event that would have been incredible for the state of Washington,” Dhingra said. “But what is happening at the federal level? It is not safe for people from other countries to come to the United States right now because people are literally being picked up from the streets and taken away.”

Seattle to host 6 World Cup matches

Dhingra said she’s curious about who from other countries will actually show up. Seattle is set to host six games starting in June of next year.

In January, officials announced nine cities that will host FIFA fan zones. The cities include Bellingham, Bremerton, Everett, Olympia, Lacey, Pasco, Richland, Kennewick, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima, and Vancouver, Washington.

The goal is to make sure families who can’t make it to the soccer matches will have a place close by to watch, socialize with like-minded fans, and enjoy the festivities—including live music, food, drinks, and interactive activities.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11 and runs through July 19.

Contributing: Matt Markovich and James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest