Boston Not Paying for Seattle Kids' World Cup Trip

Mayor Wu's office clarifies that Boston taxpayers won't foot the bill for Seattle youth to attend World Cup match.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A spokesperson from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office has confirmed that the city is not using taxpayer dollars to send a group of young people from Seattle to attend a FIFA World Cup match in their home city. The tickets were provided as part of a friendly Super Bowl wager between the Boston and Seattle World Cup Host Committees.

Why it matters

This story helps clarify that Boston taxpayers are not being asked to cover the costs of sending Seattle youth to a World Cup match, which could have been a controversial use of public funds if true. It also highlights the collaborative nature between the two host cities around the upcoming World Cup.

The details

According to the spokesperson, Mayor Wu and the Boston26 World Cup Host Committee worked in partnership with the Seattle World Cup Host Committee to provide 12 tickets to a FIFA World Cup match for young people from Seattle at no expense to the City of Boston.

  • The tickets were provided as part of a friendly Super Bowl wager between the Boston and Seattle World Cup Host Committees.

The players

Mayor Michelle Wu

The current mayor of Boston.

Boston26 World Cup Host Committee

The committee responsible for hosting World Cup matches in Boston.

Seattle World Cup Host Committee

The committee responsible for hosting World Cup matches in Seattle.

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What they’re saying

“As part of a friendly Super Bowl wager between Boston and Seattle, Mayor Wu and the Boston26 World Cup Host Committee worked in partnership with the Seattle World Cup Host Committee to provide 12 tickets to a FIFA World Cup match for young people from Seattle at no expense to the City of Boston.”

— Spokesperson (Boston Herald)

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the collaborative nature between host cities for major sporting events like the World Cup, where they work together to provide opportunities for youth from each city rather than using public funds in a competitive manner.