The Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26) announced the official locations for fan zones across Washington State. These fan zones will bring the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to communities throughout the state, offering fans the opportunity to experience the game-day energy together.

SeattleFWC26 has partnered with nine communities to create vibrant fan zones, ensuring that Washingtonians across the state can be part of this historic event.

"All over Washington State, from Bellingham to Vancouver, from Bremerton to Spokane, we are thrilled to announce these official fan zone locations that will bring the World Cup experience to every corner of Washington State," said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26. "These fan zones represent our commitment to making this a truly statewide celebration. Whether you're joining at the waterfront in Everett or Olympia, or cheering in Tacoma, the Tri-Cities or Yakima, every fan will have the chance to be part of this once-in-a-generation event."

The Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26), in partnership with the City of Seattle, Seattle Center, Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Reign FC, RAVE Foundation, Seattle Mariners, and BH Properties announced an expanded approach to fan celebrations for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Beginning June 11, fans will be able to experience FIFA World Cup 2026™ excitement at multiple locations along Seattle's Unity Loop, including Seattle Center, Waterfront Park, Pacific Place, and Victory Hall in SODO. All fan experiences in this new distributed model will be free and open to the public.

"In just over 100 days, Seattle will be buzzing as fans from all over flood our city for an unforgettable summer," said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26. “Our amazing partners have created a network of free celebrations that meet people where they live, work, and gather. This approach reflects who we are: innovative, inclusive, and community driven. We're not just hosting a tournament; we're bringing the game to everyone."

"Soccer brings people together," said Katie B. Wilson, Mayor of Seattle. "I'm so excited to be welcoming people from around the world to an incredible FIFA World Cup this year, and I can't wait to make the whole city part of the celebration."

Washington FWC2026 Safety & Security Subcommittees' Updates

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: March 4, 2026 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. To receive an invite, email: emd.worldcup26@mil.wa.gov

• Road to FIFA 2026: Strengthening homeland resilience ahead of the World Cup On Wednesday, September 17 the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative hosted a panel discussion focused on building homeland resilience ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

DOH 2026 Mass Fatality & Reunification Training

April 8 & 9, 2026 | 9am - 4:30pm

Three Regional Training Hubs

• Tacoma
• Yakima
• Spokane

This workshop will serve the governmental public health system, including tribal health jurisdictions, local health jurisdictions, state agencies, healthcare partners, and emergency management partners. The training will provide participants with a clear understanding of legal authorities, operational roles, and coordination responsibilities across agencies during a mass fatality incident.

Core components of the workshop will include presentations on mass fatality management, reunification operations, family assistance center operations, and the integration of cultural and tribal considerations.  

Click here to register

If you have any question, contact Junesca Brown at junesca.brown@doh.wa.gov

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Mass Fatality & Reunification Training – Tribal Focus

May 4 & 5, 2026 | 8:30am – 4:00pm

Tribal Public Health Emergency Preparedness (TPHEP) Pre-Conference

Quinault Beach Resort and Casino

78 WA-115, Ocean Shores, WA 98569

Click here to register 

February 13, 2026

NFL playoffs and celebrations give Seattle officials insight into securing World Cup matches

by Ranji Sinha, KIRO 7 News

City officials are using recent Super Bowl celebrations and NFL playoff games as a test case in preparing for the large crowds and international fans that the FIFA World Cup matches will bring to Seattle.

The World Cup matches in Seattle are scheduled to run from June to July this upcoming summer.

The coordination effort will bring together traditional first responders and organizations like FIFA to manage the city’s overall emergency operations strategy that will encompass the city and the region as a whole.

Seattle will activate a unified command center at its Emergency Operations Center for the six upcoming World Cup matches, according to the Deputy Director of Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management, Andrew Stevens.

Stevens said the city intends to gather the same personnel who managed recent large-scale events.

While traditional management includes police, fire, transportation, and sanitation departments, the World Cup will include a broader range of organizations. Stevens emphasized the necessity of including groups that do not typically serve as first responders.

“It is important as a city to bring in all the external stakeholders that are involved in this as well. We’re going to see that with FIFA, we’re going to have coordinating committees, the waterfront district, Seattle Center, and a lot of people that aren’t traditionally first responders,” he said.

Read the full article here: https://mynorthwest.com/local/playoffs-seattle-world-cup/4203065

February 18, 2026

Seahawks parade drone incident underscores security concerns ahead of World Cup in Seattle

By Kurt Schlosser, GeekWire

A pilot is facing charges after flying a drone into Lumen Field in Seattle during last week’s Seahawks Super Bowl victory celebration — an incident that underscores growing concerns about drone threats as Seattle prepares to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.

KOMO News reported that at least 30 drones were spotted flying over last Wednesday’s parade through Seattle, which attracted hundreds of thousands of fans along the route from the stadium to Belltown.

The King County Sheriff’s Office told GeekWire that seven pilots were contacted the day of the parade. One pilot ignored warnings and continued to fly his drone into Lumen, despite temporary flight restrictions in place.

The pilot is facing reckless endangerment charges from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and potential federal charges and fines for flying into an airspace restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Read the full article here: https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seahawks-parade-drone-incident-underscores-security-concerns-ahead-of-world-cup-in-seattle/

January 31, 2026

The World Cup’s biggest policy bet - Seattle’s new mayor vows to move her city’s homeless off its streets by kickoff

By Natalie Fertig

The self-described socialist mayor of Seattle has responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to remove World Cup matches from her city with an audacious gesture of her own: a mission to find housing for her city’s homeless before the first tournament match kicks off there in June.

Mayor Katie Wilson’s goal represents the boldest commitment by an American leader to remake the local policy landscape in preparation for the summer soccer extravaganza distributed across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“The World Cup gives us a pretty aggressive timeline for trying to bring people inside with the support that they need, as opposed to sweeping people to other neighborhoods,” Wilson told POLITICO in her first interview on the topic after entering office. “Folks who are experiencing homelessness downtown often also have complex challenges related to drug use and mental illness.”

Read the full article here: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/31/world-cup-seattle-housing-00749371

February 19, 2026

'We are excited to welcome Egyptian fans at World Cup 2026' - Seattle Mayor

By Doaa Mohamed Yousef, Ahram Online

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said the 'Rain City' is excited to welcome Egyptian fans during the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026, highlighting the city’s long-term planning efforts aimed at delivering a safe, accessible, and memorable experience for visitors from around the world.

Wilson's statements were made during a global roundtable discussion via Zoom to outline her city's preparations for the World Cup, which be played in the US, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.

Responding to a question from Ahram Online about opportunities for strengthening cultural cooperation between Seattle and Egypt, Wilson delivered a direct message to Egyptian fans.

“We are truly excited to welcome Egyptian fans. Seattle is home to a vibrant Egyptian diaspora community, and we look forward to strengthening cultural ties between Seattle, the United States, and Egypt.”

She noted that Seattle’s Host Committee is coordinating with the Egyptian Consulate and local community organizations to foster cultural exchange initiatives during the tournament.

“We welcome collaboration that helps create meaningful cultural experiences and deepens connections between our countries.”

Read the full article here: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/562686.aspx

Read the full U.S. State Department briefing here: https://www.state.gov/briefings-foreign-press-centers/countdown-to-the-cup-seattle

February 12, 2026

ICE will be at 2026 World Cup games in Seattle, director says

by Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, Seattle Times staff reporter

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will be present at the summer FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup games, including those held in Seattle.

In a hearing before Congress on Tuesday, acting director Todd Lyons told lawmakers immigration enforcement officials are “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.” The hearing, which included testimony from Lyons and other top immigration officials, was focused on enforcement operations under President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort.

“We’re dedicated to securing that operation, and we’re dedicated to the security of all our participants as well as visitors,” Lyons said during the more than three-hour-long hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Read the full article here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/ice-will-be-at-2026-world-cup-games-in-seattle-director-says/

January 29, 2026

Temporary gates, added security proposed at Lumen Field for World Cup

By Dalton Day, King 5 News

Temporary gates, security barriers and added staffing are proposed at Lumen Field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under a proposed safety plan.

Planning documents outline changes on the stadium’s west side, where large crowds are expected to exit through Gates 4 and 5. The intent is to reduce the risk of crowd congestion by giving spectators space to gather temporarily if exits slow.

The proposal calls for a temporary security barrier with nine sets of emergency and egress gates. Documents say those gates would exceed the capacity of the stadium gates they serve. Additional exit options would be available at the north and south ends of the colonnade.

Under the plan. security operations would run from four hours before kickoff to three hours after matches. The proposal includes four supervisors, 30 guards posted at gates, relief staff and at least six crowd control stewards with bullhorns. Supervisors would have authority to open gates if a self-evacuation begins.

Read the full article here: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/temporary-gates-security-lumen-field-world-cup/281-1356437f-6a1d-4a93-9f57-51ca17bb75bb