Inside World Cup in the Emerald City With Visit Seattle CEO Tammy Canavan

Navigating Seattle during the World Cup

For visitors who plan to base themselves in Seattle and use public transit, downtown and Pioneer Square will be the obvious starting points.

“We’re the only US host city to offer that level of proximity and navigability,” Canavan says. “With more than 70 hotels downtown, fans who want to be right in the action should consider making downtown Seattle their base.”

From there, the city’s transportation network, Sound Transit, does the heavy lifting. Canavan notes that Puget Sound’s system of routes constitutes the nation’s largest ferry network, which complements the rail and bus options. Fans staying in downtown can walk or roll to the stadium, then rely on transit to explore farther-flung neighborhoods between matches. For example, staying in West Seattle offers more of a “beach town” vibe than downtown does, and is easily connected to the stadium district via a cheap and frequent ferry service.

“We’ve made it easy for people to get from their accommodations to the stadium through public transit — be it by bus, light rail, streetcar, train, or ferry,” Canavan says. “Seattle has invested in citywide infrastructure and transportation to enhance the car-free guest experience, beginning from the moment you arrive at SEA Airport.”

The Link light rail connects the airport to downtown in about 35 minutes. A key expansion of that line will open at the end of March, tying downtown directly to Eastside cities such as Bellevue and Redmond, where additional hotels and restaurants are available that are slightly removed from the bustle of the city center.

“Our major transportation agencies will be increasing service during the World Cup, including Sound Transit’s Link light rail, which gets people to the stadium from nearby neighborhoods and several cities in the Puget Sound region,” Canavan says.

Sound Transit will also run an overnight bus route connecting the airport and stadium, creating 24-hour access between flights, downtown hotels, and the venue.

Seattle neighborhoods to base yourself in for the 2026 World Cup

Fans who want to rely primarily on transit have several strong options beyond the city center.

“Neighborhoods with robust public transit options beyond the city center include Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Ballard, and the U District,” Canavan says.

Capitol Hill, directly above downtown, has its own Link station and is one of Seattle’s most prominent arts and culture districts, with theaters, small music venues, and an LGBTQ+ nightlife scene that will be especially lively around Pride. South Lake Union, the city’s innovation hub, is threaded by the streetcar and here visitors can watch seaplanes take off or rent paddleboards to get out on the water.

To the north, Ballard’s maritime heritage shapes a neighborhood of breweries, independent shops, and Nordic-influenced restaurants that’s served by both RapidRide buses and light rail connections. The U District surrounds the University of Washington campus.

Between matches, Canavan encourages fans to explore the areas immediately around the stadium as well.

“We hope visitors will spend responsibly and support the locally owned businesses in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium, like the Chinatown-International District and Sodo,” she says. She points travelers to Intentionalist, a directory that highlights small businesses and the diverse owners behind them, as a tool to search by neighborhood and type of business.

How Seattle is approaching the World Cup differently

While all host cities will deliver matches and fan zones, Seattle is framing its World Cup moment as a cultural showcase. One of the most visible efforts will be the Unity Loop, a more than four-mile curated path linking downtown neighborhoods.

“We are focused on bringing Seattle’s culture and welcoming spirit to fans,” Canavan says. “The loop will highlight businesses and diverse attractions as a gateway to shopping, dining, community activations, and culturally significant sites,”

Representation is central to that plan. The Puyallup Tribe has joined the local organizing committee, SeattleFWC26, as the Official Legacy Supporter for all World Cup activities and activations.

“This marks the first time in the history of the international tournament that an Indigenous people have entered into an agreement with any host city,” Canavan says.

Additionally, Seattle will host a game on Juneteenth, when the US Men’s National Team faces Australia, and Pride weekend also takes place during the tournament.

“Seattle is home to one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the country and one of its largest Pride celebrations,” Canavan notes. “We will elevate our communities with celebrations tied to those matches.”

Why choose Seattle if you only visit one World Cup city

Asked why a fan who can only pick one World Cup destination should choose Seattle, Canavan goes straight to the landscape.

“Something that really defines Seattle as a host city is our access to nature,” she says. “We say that Seattle is a world-class city carved out of nature, with 99 percent of residents living within a 10-minute walking distance of a park.”

Within city limits, there are hundreds of miles of shoreline and about 6,000 acres of parks including the newly opened Waterfront Park, a 20-acre promenade that links Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square to the edge of Elliott Bay.

“It offers never-before-seen views of the bay, the Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier, and our downtown skyline,” Canavan says.

Then there are the pubs.

“The sports bars in Pioneer Square — just a few minutes’ walk from the stadium — are among my favorites for people who want to be right in the action,” Canavan says.

She points to The Hall on Occidental as well as Victory Hall and Lowlander Brewing, the latter from James Beard Award-winning chef Renee Erickson. North of downtown, Seattle Center will be another hub, anchored by the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Climate Pledge Arena. “There are some great spots nearby,” Canavan says. “Queen Anne Beer Hall is a classic, and Tom’s Watch Bar has well over a hundred screens, so you can catch all the World Cup action.”

For a more neighborhood-scale atmosphere, Rough & Tumble has expanded from its Ballard home base to a second location in Columbia City. Another women’s sports bar, Pitch the Baby, recently opened on Capitol Hill.

“So, there’s no shortage of options, and they all contribute to Seattle’s proud sports culture,” Canavan says. With a recent Seahawks Super Bowl title, the Mariners’ playoff runs, and some of the highest rates of soccer participation in the country, “our love for the game runs deep and will be on full display this summer.”