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Juneteenth Match Day
The second of six FIFA World Cup 26TM matches taking place in Seattle will feature the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) vs Australia on Juneteenth (June 19th). Having thousands of visitors and hundreds of millions of viewers focused on the USMNT in Seattle on Juneteenth is a unique opportunity to educate the world, inspire our community and the next generation of Black soccer players, and benefit Black businesses and cultural organizations. As the lead organization for planning and coordinating community engagement and legacy for the FIFA World Cup Seattle matches, SeattleFWC26 has a critical role in the region’s responsibility for making the most of this opportunity.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a national holiday which marks the end of slavery in the United States. SeattleFWC26 is using this moment of global focus to educate the world on the history, meaning, and significance of Juneteenth. We encourage you to learn more about the history and growth of Juneteenth by visiting and exploring BlackPast.org, the largest online encyclopedia of Black history in America founded by Dr. Quintard Taylor, who passed away in September 2025. With this collaboration to educate, we honor and uplift his life’s work.
The 19th
On June 19, 2026, when the USMNT takes the pitch against Australia in Seattle, the world won’t just see a game—they will see the culmination of a journey from freedom and liberation to representation. "The 19th" uses the global stage of the World Cup to bridge the gap between the historical significance of Juneteenth and the modern excellence of Black soccer players, as well as educate the world on the history and significance of this national holiday.
Soccer is a game of space and movement. For the Black community, the struggle for "space and movement" has been the defining journey of the last 160 years. On June 19, 2026, when the whistle blows in Seattle, it won’t be for just another Group Stage match. It will be one where they are playing for the ancestors who were denied the right to move, the legends who carved out the pitch, and the kids who will one day own it. On "The 19th," we play for something greater.
SeattleFWC26 has worked with Black soccer players, past and present, to create this video series in hopes that sharing their stories and perspective in this moment will help to inspire the next generation of players.
Juneteenth XI
The Ancestor's Jersey
How do you commemorate Juneteenth?
Do you reflect? Celebrate? Something else? Join us by making a selfie video, finishing the phrase "On the 19th, I...." and tagging @fwc26seattle!
Juneteenth Design Contest
As hundreds of thousands of visitors and millions of viewers tune in to Seattle during the Juneteenth Matchday, when Seattle hosts the United States Men's National Team vs. Australia, we are presented with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact. These Juneteenth designs, created by local Black artists, will serve as an iconic visual legacy, uniting people across the globe to our city and state during the largest sporting event in history. The designs are both thought-provoking and celebratory, reflecting the energy of the FIFA World Cup while honoring the meaning and spirit of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee
SeattleFWC26 assembled the Juneteenth Matchday Advisory Committee (JMAC), which convened beginning in Fall 2024 through June 2026, to advise SeattleFWC26 as we prepare for the moment—and the responsibility—of hosting a match on this day.