Two Days to Kickoff: Seattle Welcomes the World for FIFA World Cup 2026™

Belgium and Egypt open Seattle’s tournament at 12pm on Monday, June 15 at Seattle Stadium. Here is the tournament media’s guide to the city’s first match, four official fan celebrations, and how to move around Seattle between now and midweek.

SEATTLE, WA – Kickoff is nearly here. On Monday, June 15, Seattle Stadium hosts Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G), the first of six FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches the city welcomes this summer. To help visiting and local media plan coverage, the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee has compiled the essential who, what, where, and when for the days surrounding Seattle’s opener. This advisory highlights programming for June 13 through 17. A new advisory will go out two days ahead of each match day.

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THE MATCH

Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G) Match 16

Monday, June 15, 2026 Kickoff at 12:00 p.m. PT

A heat advisory will be in effect, with the warmest weather expected between 3pm and 5pm.

Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134

Stadium gates open at 9 a.m. Media and fans should factor in time for security screening and added travel.

Seattle’s full match slate: June 15 (Belgium vs. Egypt, Noon PT), June 19 (USA vs. Australia, Noon PT), June 24 (Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Noon PT), June 26 (Egypt vs. Iran, 8:00 p.m. PT), July 1 (Round of 32, 1:00 p.m. PT), July 6 (Round of 16, 5:00 p.m. PT).

DRONE SCOREBOARD DEBUT

A first-of-its-kind aerial scoreboard created by Visit Seattle with Sky Elements will light the skyline beside the Space Needle on each Seattle match night, generally between 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. PT. June 15 is the first show at 10 p.m. PT. Prime viewing will be on and around the Seattle Center campus.

STADIUM POLICIES

Seattle Stadium follows a clear bag policy to maintain a safe and efficient entry process; only certain types of bags are allowed inside the stadium.

Fans are permitted to bring factory sealed water bottles up to 20 ounces into the stadium.  

MARCH TO THE MATCH

Belgian fans are assembling at Victory Hall to collectively march to the match. The march will leave Victory Hall no later than 10 a.m.

SeattleFWC26 is not aware of a plan for a coordinated march for Egyptian supporters.

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OFFICIAL FAN CELEBRATIONS

Seattle has four official fan celebration sites, each operating throughout the tournament. All four offer strong visual and human-interest coverage opportunities. Full operating windows are listed for each site below; these advisory details programming for the first five days (June 13 through 17). A new advisory goes out two days ahead of each match day.

Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place

Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Operating: daily June 15 through July 2, plus July 6 and 7. Free, all-ages, no tickets or preregistration.

A 27,000-square-foot experience across six themed zones, anchored by Seattle’s largest viewing screen at 70 by 40 feet. Opens Monday, June 15. On days the experience is not open, Pacific Place continues showing matches on the large screen.

Match screenings on the 70-by-40-foot screen:

Monday, June 15 (venue open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.): Spain vs. Cape Verde, Atlanta (9 to 11 a.m.); Belgium vs. Egypt, Seattle (12 to 2 p.m.); Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, Miami (3 to 5 p.m.); Iran vs. New Zealand, Los Angeles (6 to 8 p.m.).

Tuesday, June 16, Telemundo Match Day: select matches featured in Spanish with fan giveaways. France vs. Senegal, New York/NJ (12 to 2 p.m.); Iraq vs. Norway, Boston (3 to 5 p.m.); Argentina vs. Algeria, Kansas City (6 to 8 p.m.).

Wednesday, June 17 (venue open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.): Portugal vs. DR Congo, Houston (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.); England vs. Croatia, Dallas (1 to 3 p.m.); Ghana vs. Panama, Toronto (4 to 6 p.m.).

Daily from opening: kids’ activities, ambassador meet-and-greets, daily giveaways, a dedicated sensory room, and full ADA accessibility (closed captioning, audio resources, language interpretation).

Closest transit: Free Match Day Shuttle, Link Light Rail Westlake Station, all King County Metro buses stopping on Third Avenue, and Seattle Monorail.

Let’s Play SEA ’26, World Soccer Fan Celebration at Seattle Center

Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

Operating: throughout the tournament, a 39-day celebration of free, family-friendly programming across the campus.

Anchored by the Armory, Seattle Center will feature FIFA World Cup 2026™ match viewing, the Global Marketplace, cultural programming, community activations, visitor information services, and daily fan experiences.

On Seattle Match Days and select featured matches, the celebration expands to the Mural Amphitheatre, transforming into a signature outdoor fan destination featuring large-scale match viewing, a beer garden, live DJs, entertainment, fan activities, and a festival atmosphere against the backdrop of the Seattle skyline.

Featured Mural Amphitheatre Watch Parties Include:

• June 15 – Belgium vs. Egypt (Seattle Match)

Additional highlights include: • Visit Seattle Drone Scoreboard displays above Seattle Center on Seattle Match Days • Global Marketplace featuring local vendors and makers • Indigenous Peoples Festival, Juneteenth celebrations, PrideFest, and other cultural celebrations • Global DJ Series and live entertainment • Workout Wednesdays presented by Virginia Mason • Interactive exhibits, art activations, and family programming

Seattle Center will be operating throughout the duration of the tournament and serve as a central gathering place for residents and visitors to experience the tournament together.

Key programming highlights include:

Saturday, June 13: Indigenous People Festival (Armory, Mural Amphitheatre, and International Fountain Lawn) and Washington Brewers Festival (Fisher Pavilion).

Saturday, June 13: “Bring It, Screen It!” screen printing with The Vera Project (Noon to 2 p.m.) and a Global DJ Program set from DJ Blvckabels (Mural Amphitheatre).

Monday, June 15: Aerial scoreboard created by Visit Seattle with Sky Elements will light the skyline beside the Space Needle at 10 p.m. PT.

Wednesday, June 17, Workout Wednesdays: summer fitness classes presented by Virginia Mason (Gentle Yoga 5:30 p.m.; Zumba® and Mat Pilates 6:45 p.m.).

Throughout: the “Traditions: Connecting Threads of Shared Humanity” heritage exhibit (June 11 to Aug. 15, International Fountain Pavilion) and the Global Marketplace of local vendors and makers (inside the Armory and along Thomas Street).

Closest transit: Free Match Day Shuttle, Free Waterfront Shuttle, and Seattle Monorail.

Seattle Soccer Celebration at Pier 62 & The Barge

Pier 62, on the Central Waterfront, 1951 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101. Presented by Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC.

Operating: June 11 through July 6. Free watch parties and RAVE 52 free play at Pier 62; ticketed live match viewings on The Barge.

Ticketed live viewings on The Barge are a featured offering, with a different match nearly every day. Tickets are sold through tickettailor.com/events/seattlesoccercelebration; all sales are final.

Saturday, June 13: RAVE 52 free play at Pier 62 (8 to 11 a.m., free); Brazil vs. Morocco live viewing on The Barge (2 to 6 p.m., ticketed).

Sunday, June 14: Sweden vs. Tunisia live viewing on The Barge (6 to 10 p.m., ticketed).

Monday, June 15: Free watch parties at Pier 62 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.); Belgium vs. Egypt live viewing on The Barge (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., ticketed).

Tuesday, June 16: France vs. Senegal (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Argentina vs. Algeria (5 to 9 p.m.) live viewings on The Barge (ticketed).

Wednesday, June 17: England vs. Croatia live viewing on The Barge (12 to 4 p.m., ticketed).

Closest transit: Free Waterfront Shuttle.

Seattle Matchday Live at Victory Hall

The Boxyard, 1201 1st Ave S. Hosted by the Seattle Mariners.

Operating: daily throughout the tournament (June 11 through July 19); hours vary by day. Free daily fan celebration, with a separate ticketed 21+ concert series.

Saturday, June 13: All-day watch party showing the day’s group-stage matches (9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., free). In the evening, the venue’s ticketed 21+ concert series presents Deorro: Botas y Rave (6 p.m. to midnight), a headline DJ set at The Boxyard. (The series continues later in the tournament, including Nero on July 3.)

Sunday, June 14: Watch party showing the day’s group-stage matches (9 a.m. to 10 p.m., free).

Monday, June 15, Seattle Matchday Live: Dedicated match programming (7 a.m. to 9 p.m., free) screening Spain vs. Cape Verde (9 a.m.), Belgium vs. Egypt, Seattle (12 p.m.), and Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (3 p.m.).

Tuesday, June 16: Watch party showing the day’s group-stage matches (11 a.m. to midnight, free).

Wednesday, June 17: Watch party showing the day’s group-stage matches (9 a.m. to 10 p.m., free).

Closest transit: Free Waterfront Shuttle, Free Match Day Shuttle, Link Light Rail Stadium Station.

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GETTING AROUND

The regional message to fans is simple: plan ahead and take transit. Seattle Stadium is among the most transit-accessible venues in the tournament, and roughly 80 percent of ticketed fans are expected to arrive without a personal vehicle.

Expect congestion

Heavy road congestion in and around downtown Seattle is expected on June 15 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Plan ahead, allow extra time, and use transit, walking, biking, or rolling where possible.

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Walking, biking, and the pedestrian zone

On June 15, the Pioneer Square area near the stadium becomes a walkable, pedestrian-only zone with motor vehicle access restricted. Traffic restrictions will go into effect at 9 a.m. and last until roughly 4 p.m.

Shared bikes and scooters route to designated parking near the stadium and are automatically slowed to 8 mph within the pedestrian zone.

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Buses and free shuttles

King County Metro is boosting service levels and connecting communities to Seattle Stadium, fan celebrations, watch parties and Link light rail stations across King County, helping travelers leave their cars at home and avoid traffic congestion. Visit Metro’s SEA26 Soccer page for maps and details.

A free Match Day Shuttle runs on all six match days between Seattle Center and Seattle Stadium, primarily along Third Avenue. Service begins at 9 a.m. on June 15, increasing to a bus every three minutes at 11 a.m., and continues until roughly 5 p.m. on a load-and-go model. It connects the Stadium and the fan celebrations at Seattle Center, Pacific Place, and Victory Hall.

A free Waterfront Shuttle runs daily from May 21 through Labor Day from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., connecting Seattle Center, Waterfront Park, Pioneer Square, Seattle Stadium, and the Chinatown-International District, linking the celebrations at Seattle Center, Waterfront Park, and Victory Hall. Waterfront Shuttles will be rerouted on Match Days to continue to operate to and from Chinatown-International District while avoiding street closures.

Both shuttles are fare-free through a collaboration between SeattleFWC26 and its host city supporters.

Additionally, Metro is adding weekday trips to routes 40, 70, 101 and 150.  Metro will be monitoring rider demand and travel times on other busy routes and making adjustments where possible.  

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Light rail and commuter rail

Sound Transit will run the 1 Line and 2 Line every eight minutes throughout each match day with service extended until 1 a.m., roughly every four minutes from International District/Chinatown north.

Ticketed fans are encouraged to choose stadium-area stations by direction of travel: Pioneer Square Station for riders to and from the north, Stadium Station for riders to and from the south, and International District/Chinatown Station for riders to and from the east.

Sounder commuter rail will serve all matches with a mix of regular and special service. Match attendees are strongly encouraged to use earlier S and N Line service trains when traveling into the city, as event trains are expected to experience higher-than-normal crowding.

On June 15, heading to Seattle Stadium:

S line Train 1518 (10:11 a.m. departure from Lakewood) will be cancelled (a shuttle bus will be provided) and replaced with special event train 1600 (9:26 a.m. departure from Lakewood).

N line Train 1703 (6:45 a.m. departure from Everett) will be cancelled and replaced with special event train 1801 (9:45 a.m. departure from Everett).

Returning after the match:

S Line: Passengers should take normal S Line service on their return trip.

N Line: An additional afternoon N Line train will depart King Street Station approximately 60 minutes after the match ends. Passengers can also take normal N Line service home.

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Water taxi and ferry

Ferries and passenger-only water taxis bring riders into downtown, a short walk or Waterfront Shuttle ride from the stadium. Washington State Ferries is prioritizing its busiest Central Puget Sound routes, including Seattle/Bainbridge Island, Seattle/Bremerton, and Edmonds/Kingston.

King County Water Taxi will operate more trips , including late-night sailings Mondays through Saturdays to and from West Seattle and seven-day passenger-only service to Vashon.

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Parking and rideshare

There will be no publicly available parking at Seattle Stadium on match days. Street parking is restricted within the pedestrian zone starting at 2 a.m. on June 15.

Rideshare pickup and drop-off is geofenced away from the stadium, with designated zones in Pioneer Square, the Chinatown-International District, and SODO.

A taxi stand will operate just north of Terminal 46.

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Accessibility and Mobility Restricted

A free Access shuttle service operated by King County Metro will pick up and drop off fans at International Distict/Chinatown light rail station and connect to the Mariners Garage and 1st and South Charles Street, the closest stop to Seattle Stadium. Fans with disabilities will be able to enter Seattle Stadium at Gate 8, the stop closest to the Access shuttle drop-off.  

Fans with disabilities may be dropped off by personal vehicles and rideshare along southbound First Avenue between South King Street and South Charles Street.

AccessMap provides customized directions for Seattle pedestrians and wheelchair users looking to avoid hills, construction sites, and other accessibility barriers.

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Fares

Bus and light rail fares are $3. Ferry and water taxi fares range from $2 to $13. Youth 18 and under ride free on all public transit in Washington. An All Day PugetPass is $6, and a three-day pass is $18, both requiring an ORCA card. The easiest ways to pay are an ORCA card or tap-to-pay with a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet.

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RESOURCES & LINKS

Official fan celebrations: seattlefwc26.org/events/seattle-fan-celebrations

Match day transportation, shuttle routes, and closure maps: seattlefwc26.org/transportation

Sound Transit tournament guide: soundtransit.org/soccertournament

King County Metro SEA26 hub: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/rider-tools/sea26-soccer

ORCA tournament fares: info.myorca.com/seattle-soccer-2026

FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Fan Info WhatsApp Channel for Seattle  (real-time updates)

Learn more about the Stadium Code of Conduct, prohibited items, and other important pre-game information regarding Seattle Stadium. 

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LOOKING AHEAD

The next advisory will be shared on Wednesday, June 17 ahead of USA vs. Australia on Friday, June 19 (Noon PT), which falls on Juneteenth and carries dedicated commemorative programming citywide.

Know Before You Go to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match at Seattle Stadium

On match days, downtown Seattle will be one of the most transit-rich environments in the city’s history, and Seattle Stadium will be easiest to reach by light rail, bus, foot, bike, and water. Seattle Fan Celebrations and match day transportation plans—including light rail stations, shuttle routes, street closure windows, and rideshare zone maps—are available at Seattlefwc26.org/transportation.  Learn more about the Stadium Code of Conduct, prohibited items, and other important pre-game information regarding Seattle Stadium. 

Fans are encouraged to join the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Fan Info WhatsApp Channel for Seattle to receive real-time updates, travel guidance, and matchday information curated by FIFA and SeattleFWC26 before and during the tournament.

About Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee

SeattleFWC26 is the local organizing committee for Seattle’s participation as one of the 16 Host Cities selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. As a not-for-profit organization, SeattleFWC26’s vision is to foster a lasting legacy for our region, guided by the spirit of soccer, innovation, and inclusion. To keep up to date on the latest news and involvement opportunities with SeattleFWC26, please visit https://www.seattlefwc26.org.

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