After city officials found Seattle was spending less on its Office of Emergency Management than peer cities like Denver and Portland, a 44% boost to the department’s budget should help make the city safer as it hosts six matches of the FIFA Men’s World Cup this summer.
The Seattle City Council’s public safety committee heard an update on OEM preparations Tuesday morning. Continue reading
The city will put a one-month pause on street and construction projects across Seattle during this summer’s World Cup.
As it is set to host a planned six matches for the men’s 2026 tournament, Seattle will have a “SDOT FIFA Moratorium” in place on its major streets and arteries starting June 8th through July 7th.
On Capitol Hill, the grid around Pike/Pine will be essentially shut down for street projects during the duration of the tournament.
“With hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving for the matches, our streets and sidewalks will be busier than usual,” the Seattle Department of Transportation said in the announcement. “Pausing construction helps us: Reduce traffic congestion. Keep transit moving reliably. Make it easier for people to walk, roll, and bike to events and local businesses. Ensure our neighborhoods look their best for the festivities.” Continue reading
World Cup fans on Capitol Hill in 2014
Seattle’s organizing committee for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will be on Capitol Hill Friday with a few local soccer legends for a Final Draw watch party as the groupings for the global soccer tournament get mostly banged out.
Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 announced it is holding its Friday watch party at Capitol Hill’s Stoup Brewing:
WHAT: Seattle FIFA World Cup™ Host City Final Draw Watch PartyWHO: Local soccer legends, Community leaders andofficials of the SeattleFWC26 Local Organizing Committee. Speakers for the event will be available for comment and will include:
University Soccer coach
This spring, a few more teams will qualify and the full groups will be fleshed out but Friday will be a big day for the 2026 cup. With an expanded field, 48 nations will be split into 12 groups of four for the group stages when all is said and done. Continue reading
