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January 2026
Washington State's FIFA World Cup 2026™ Safety & Security Planning Updates
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In This Issue
◊ Planning Highlights
◊ WA FWC2026 Subcommittee Updates
◊ Planning Tools & Resources
◊ Tournament Status
◊ Training Opportunities
◊ In the News
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FIFA World Cup 2026™ brings the world's largest sporting event to Washington and 15 other locations across North America.
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First and foremost, our hearts go out to everyone affected by the flooding and severe weather. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for many, but we firmly believe in our collective strength to recover. We are truly grateful for our dedicated emergency managers and first responders who are working tirelessly to help those in need. Thank you for your incredible efforts during this challenging period!
Although our FWC2026 preparedness efforts have experienced some delays in recent weeks, our planning committee representatives will reach out as soon as activities resume.
We are committed to moving forward as our state begins the recovery process, and we remain confident that we will safely welcome the world to Washington this summer.
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Planning Highlights
Match Assignment Milestone!
42 qualified teams entered December 5th's bracket "draw" to determine FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage matchups. The draw identified six of the teams that will play in Seattle; USA, Belgium, Egypt, Australia, Iran, and Qatar.
Qatar's opponent on June 24 will be determined during the runner up matches in March.
Two matches, July 1 and July 6, are "knock-out" with opponents determined by the winners of the group stage.
Team site selection has also begun. Bidding for base camps, training sites, and accommodations opened in December 2025, with final decisions potentially extending to April 2026.
All tournament matches are found here: www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/
Intelligence Analysis Available
The Washington State Fusion Center, in partnership with the FIFA analysis team, has made available detailed team profiles. The Team Profiles include:
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Fanbase Assessment
- Organized supporter groups
- Banners, chants, and pyrotechnics
- Popularity, engagement, and mobilization
- Diaspora dynamics
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Political and Social Context
- Flashpoints for escalation
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Football Governance and Policing
- Domestic football policing structures
- International information sharing
- Visa and sanctions considerations
- Criminal or adverse connections
Request access to the Team Profiles and other intel products my emailing emd.worldcup26@mil.wa.gov.
Washington FWC2026 Subcommittee Updates
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Washington State’s FIFA World Cup 2026 (WA FWC2026) Safety and Security Planning Committee has become a well-established hub for partner integration. The six focused Subcommittees are: Communications, Emergency Management, Public Health & Medical, Safety & Security, Transportation, and Intelligence, Threat Analysis, and Investigations. Each group brings together subject matter experts from across local, state, tribal, federal, and regional agencies.
Please email emd.worldcup26@mil.wa.gov to connect with a subcommittee or follow-ups on any of the following information.
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∗ NOTE: Subcommittee meetings were postponed in December due to disaster response. This remains the most up-to-date information but contains previous reports.
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Safety & Security
- A newly launched safety and security outreach initiative, led by EMD, is an addition means of increasing collaboration across Washington.
- Coordination between statewide fan zone planners continues.
- Seattle PD, King County Sherifs Office, and Washington State Patrol are working together to align equipment and strategies to prepare potential drone threats.
- Participation state fire chiefs' meetings expand cooperation across the state.
Communications
- First draft of the Crisis Comms Plan is being reviewed before it is pushed up to the Planning Committee for review.
- First draft of the JIC/JIS plan has been added to the Crisis Comms Plan.
- Identified the 10 most likely/broadest reaching potential threats/hazards that will get pre-scripted messaging. These include severe weather/extreme heat, traffic congestion, and law enforcement activity.
- Wireless carriers to continue assessing the coverage needs or event sites.
Emergency Management
- Continuing to evolve reunification plans for better application during tournament-related incidents.
- Applying lessons learned from post-Typhoon Halong evacuations in Alaska.
Intelligence, Threat Analysis, & Investigations
- SEAR ratings for fan zones will be released in January, and based on those SEAR ratings from DHS, the Fusion Center will produce SETAs for those fan zone events as they happen.
- Team profiles are now available. Access here: Washington State Planning: FIFA World Cup 2026 - Home
- Statewide fan zone planners are joining the subcommittee and expanding the intel the sharing community.
Public Health & Medical
- Credentialing – working with DOH HSQA to make sure international team providers from are supported for practicing medicine in WA. These providers may also be useful in the event of a potential disaster (i.e. rapid credentialing).
- Finalizing a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Annex.
- Drafting a tournament-related statewide fatality management concept of operations.
- Exploring how social media monitoring could be utilized for public health surveillance and early identification of outbreaks.
- State epidemiologists and DOH continues work on the disease priority matrix and the anticipated resource needs.
- Including Tribal Nations through coordination with the American Indian Health Commission.
Transportation
- Whatcom County's Cross-Border Working Group poll will be sent out to set up next meeting in early January
- SeattleFWC2026 (the Local Organizing Committee) is developing a webpage to share tips on how to move about the region during the tournament.
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Increased cruise ship activity during the tournament is expected to bring 4,000–7,000 additional visitors to the Seattle area.
Thank you to all partners for your collaboration!
Join Our Monthly Open Office Hours
The Washington State FWC2026 Planning Committee hosts monthly Open Office Hours via MS Teams providing a space to ask questions, share updates, or just listen in. Let's continue building momentum together as we prepare for one of the biggest events Washington has ever hosted!
Next Session: January 7, 2026 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. To receive an invite, email: emd.worldcup26@mil.wa.gov
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Planning Tools & Resources
Tournament Status
42 of 48 Teams are qualified for the tournament.
The remaining teams compete in March 2026 to earn the final six tournament slots.
- UEFA Play-off, March 2026: 16 European league (UEFA) teams compete for 4 of the remaining UEFA tournament slots.
- FIFA Play-offs, March 2026: 6 teams - Iraq (AFC), Congo DR (CAF), Jamaica (Conacaf), Boliva (CONMEBOL), Suriname (CONMEBOL), and New Caledonia (OFC) - compete for 2 additional tournament slots.
Each confederation has its own path to qualification based on FIFA’s allocated slots. For the most current updates, visit FIFA’s official tournament page: FIFA World Cup 26™ Qualifiers.
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Training Opportunities
Washington State Emergency Management Division and our partners are coordinating many training opportunities to address the unique challenges of FIFA World Cup 2026.
Highlights from Washington Emergency Management Division Training Calendar
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In the News
December 21, 2025
New app will guide visiting World Cup fans through Seattle neighborhoods
SEA&WIN is SeattleFWC26’s interactive, app-based mobile game—created to bring the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to life across Seattle and Washington State.
Players can explore local neighborhoods, take quizzes, visit landmarks, and complete challenges to earn points and unlock prizes while discovering the best of our region’s art, culture, and small businesses.
Read more about the app and stay updated on release here: seattlefwc26.org/seaandwin
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December 10, 2025
LGBTQ+ events to go ahead at World Cup game despite Egypt and Iran objections
By Paul MacInnes, the Guardian
Plans to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms in Seattle during the World Cup next summer will continue despite objections from the Egyptian and Iranian football federations over the “Pride Match” due to take place in the city.
Seattle organizers have confirmed that they are “moving forward as planned” with Pride activities in the city when Egypt face Iran in Group G on 26 June. Rainbow flags will also be allowed into the stadium by FIFA.
Read the full article here: www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/10/lgbtq-pride-world-cup-egypt-iran-objections-seattle-fifa
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December 09, 2025
How Seattle is getting ready to host the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup
by Noel Gasca, KUOW
With the official schedule for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup now set, Seattle-area organizers are in the thick of final preparations for the tournament.
Several of Seattle’s parks, Lumen Field, and Sea-Tac Airport are in the middle of renovations in anticipation of the 750,000 fans the city expects.
“I think people recognize that this is the biggest event on the planet, that this tournament is larger than it’s ever been with 48 teams,” Jon Scholes, the President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association told KUOW. “Sports in Seattle is a great mix.”
Click here to read the full article https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-seattle-is-getting-ready-to-host-the-2026-fifa-world-cup
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December 15, 2025
2026 FIFA World Cup price structures for Seattle, Vancouver, BC revealed
By Ramsey Pfeffinger, Fox 13 Seattle
With exactly six months until the first Seattle game of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, we look at category listings for seat prices at two of our region's closest host cities, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Here is how the categories will work for games at Seattle Stadium [Lumen Field renamed for the games due to FIFA rules] and BC Place.
Category 1 — The highest-priced seats, located primarily in the lower tier
Category 2 — Positioned outside of Category 1 areas, available in both lower and upper tiers
Category 3 — Located outside of Category 1 and 2 areas, typically in the upper tier
Category 4: The most affordable category, located outside of Categories 1–3, and positioned in the upper tier (none listed by FIFA as available)
Read the full article here: www.fox13seattle.com/sports/world-cup-prices-seattle-vancouver-bc
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November 07, 2025
Love Kitsap Launches ‘Stay Kitsap 2026'
"Just a short ferry ride away, Kitsap offers affordable lodging, great local restaurants, and stunning waterfront views. Catch the action in Seattle, then relax in a friendly, welcoming community. Whether you’re grabbing fresh seafood, exploring scenic trails, or enjoying soccer action at the Bremerton Fan Zone, Kitsap is the best choice for your soccer trip in 2026."
See this website for more information: staykitsap26.com
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Want to share this newsletter with others? Include this link in your own publication: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAMILITARY/bulletins/4011ca4
For further inquiries, please contact the Safety & Security Planning Team at emd.worldcup26@mil.wa.gov
This newsletter was produced by Caroline Byrd and Bobby Kelly, Washington Emergency Management Division, at caroline.byrd@mil.wa.gov & robert.kelly@mil.wa.gov
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