Seattle and Vancouver Coordinate for 2026 World Cup Tourism

The two host cities expect over 1.1 million visitors and billions in economic impact as they work together to promote the region.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:22am

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the grand scale of international travel and tourism, with sweeping gradients, towering architectural forms, and sleek, streamlined shapes, capturing the excitement and anticipation surrounding the 2026 World Cup in the Cascadia region.The Pacific Northwest's Cascadia region prepares to welcome the world as Seattle and Vancouver coordinate cross-border planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Seattle Today

Seattle and Vancouver are collaborating closely to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see the two cities hosting a combined 13 matches. Officials from both cities expect hundreds of thousands of visitors and billions in economic impact as they work to coordinate tourism efforts across the Cascadia region that includes Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

Why it matters

The World Cup represents a major opportunity for the Pacific Northwest region to showcase its shared culture, geography, and economic ties. By working together, Seattle and Vancouver aim to spread tourism spending across neighborhoods and highlight local businesses, natural attractions, and Indigenous cultural experiences beyond just the match venues.

The details

Seattle is promoting a 'Unity Loop' to guide visitors through the city's light rail and pedestrian network to discover museums, parks, cultural institutions, and small businesses. An app called 'SEA&WIN' will allow visitors to earn rewards, including potential match tickets, by checking in at various sites. In Vancouver, tourism officials hope to highlight the city's contrast between urban life and nearby nature, promoting destinations like Whistler and Indigenous cultural experiences across British Columbia.

  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place next summer.
  • Seattle and Vancouver expect to host a combined 13 matches during the tournament.

The players

Shawn Crowley

The U.S. Consul General in Vancouver, who noted the strong relationship between the Cascadia region across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

Leo Flor

The Chief Legacy Officer for Seattle FWC 26, who discussed the city's 'Unity Loop' and 'SEA&WIN' app to spread tourism beyond the stadium district.

Maya Lange

From Destination British Columbia, who highlighted the organization's work to promote Vancouver and the surrounding natural and Indigenous cultural experiences.

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What they’re saying

“Washington State, Oregon, British Columbia really have had a great relationship over the years as the whole region, Cascadia. You can see the climate is very similar. I think the way of life is very similar.”

— Shawn Crowley, U.S. Consul General in Vancouver

“The soccer's going to be fantastic, but what we are really interested in is proving that it's possible to bring an event of this magnitude to our community and then have the local community benefit from that.”

— Leo Flor, Chief Legacy Officer for Seattle FWC 26

“There's going to be a lot of action and activity of excitement, kind of like during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. So much energy in the city itself. Having the stadium right downtown really makes it easy for people to travel from their hotel to the games, to experience watch parties or the shopping and all the things that there are to do in the downtown.”

— Maya Lange, Destination British Columbia

What’s next

Officials in Seattle and Vancouver will continue to coordinate closely in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, working to promote the region's shared culture, natural attractions, and local businesses to the expected influx of visitors.

The takeaway

The 2026 World Cup represents a unique opportunity for the Cascadia region to showcase its interconnected nature, with Seattle and Vancouver working together to spread tourism benefits beyond just the match venues and highlight the area's diverse cultural and natural offerings.