Cantwell, WA Delegation Support Seattle Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Washington state’s congressional delegation to call on Fédération Internationale de Football (FIFA) leadership and tournament organizers to consider Seattle as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), whose district includes Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Sounders led the letter.

 “As members of Washington state’s congressional delegation, we are excited to share what makes our state special. We look forward to working with FIFA, as well as our state and local partners, to host the world in 2026,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter addressed to leaders from FIFA, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Mr. Smith, Mr. Montagliani and Ms. Parlow Cone: 

We encourage you to consider Seattle as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As members of the Washington state congressional delegation, we know Seattle would be an excellent host city and we welcome the opportunity to share with the world all that makes Washington special. 

The Pacific Northwest represents the future of soccer in North America. Puget Sound is home to the third-most attended National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, Tacoma’s OL Reign, and the second-most attended Major League Soccer (MLS) team, the two-time MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders. Youth soccer is also the most-played organized sport in the region, with 93,000 participants in Washington Youth Soccer programs. Our region is where soccer is growing, and Seattle will have a guaranteed fan base to welcome the World Cup.  

For international fans, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is an ideal international gateway, with the third-most direct flights to Asia of any airport in the western United States. Nearby airports in Everett, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia expand our capacity to host the world as fans and families plan their vacations around a match at Lumen Field.  

When guests arrive, they will be able to access matches and tourist destinations easily, thanks to robust local, state and federal investments in public transportation. Light rail connects guests straight from Sea-Tac airport to downtown hotels and Lumen field, while Amtrak connects the entire Northwest from Portland to Vancouver, and Spokane to Seattle. Downtown Seattle is ready to host guests in nearly 15,000 hotel rooms; throughout the surrounding counties, all connected by light rail, there are more than 57,000 available rooms.  

For visitors, Washington boasts a wealth of culinary, tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities. Guests can explore the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest on one of 3,897 hiking trails, or visit one of Washington’s more than 1,000 wineries, 420 breweries or booming cideries. Across the state, guests will find rock climbing and alpine spas in central Washington, a thriving music and arts scene in Spokane, and restaurants serving everything from locally-sourced shellfish to beef raised on Eastern Washington’s ranches.  

As members of the Washington congressional delegation, we are excited to share what makes our state special. We look forward to working with FIFA, as well as our state and local partners, to host the world in 2026. 

Sincerely,  

Rick Larsen
Member of Congress 

Pramila Jayapal
Member of Congress 

Patty Murray
Member of Congress 

Maria Cantwell
Member of Congress 

Adam Smith
Member of Congress

Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Member of Congress

Jaime Herrera Beutler
Member of Congress

Suzan DelBene
Member of Congress

Derek Kilmer
Member of Congress

Dan Newhouse
Member of Congress

Kim Schrier, M.D.
Member of Congress

Marilyn Strickland
Member of Congress

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