Hopes of World Cup tourist boom feeling shaky in Seattle

By: Jake Goldstein-Street

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: May 13, 2026

Words: 1,246

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 6 days ago

Last year, FIFA President Gianni Infantino likened this year’s World Cup to “104 Super Bowls.”

With the soccer tournament a month away, that’s feeling like a stretch.

In Seattle, which will host six matches, bullish expectations for the local tourism economy have dampened. Many other cities are in the same boat.

The World Cup will take place between June and July, with 104 games scheduled in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and …

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