2026 World Cup: Seattle Stadium offering options for fans with sensory challenges
The FIFA Men's World Cup is ramping up its options for those who need to step away from the bustle, brightness and/or volume of the stadiums for a bit.
Every stadium, including Lumen Field or Seattle Stadium as it will be called the next few weeks, will include dedicated spaces for those with anxiety, autism, PTSD or any other sensory challenge that leaves fans feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed. There are also grab-and-go resources in the form of sensory bags.
Uma Srivastava, executive director of sensory accessibility nonprofit KultureCity, said the clear sensory bags are first-come, first-serve, and attendees don't need to show proof of diagnosis. The bags contain noise-reducing headphones that can be modified to fit adults and children, fidget tools and glasses with UV filters to help with fireworks and pyrotechnics.
"We don't want anybody to not show up because accessibility is a question," Srivastava said.
Right outside Lumen Field, KultureCity will provide a pop-up mobile sensory room with dimmed lighting, reduced noise, comfortable seating, textured walls and "a variety of different tactile elements to help regulate," as Srivastava explained.
There's also an existing sensory room inside the stadium, known as Ben's Sensory Room. It is located at the southwest guest services location in the Olympic Hall.
"A quiet space for folks to step away, decompress," Srivastava said. "They'll be paired with trained volunteers, so if anybody has a sensory need - is feeling a bit overwhelmed - we'll have folks and tools to assist that way.
The first option isn't, ‘Oh gosh, I've got to go home or go back to my hotel after spending all this time and money and effort to get into a match.'"
KultureCity has already worked with venues within the city, including the Seattle Aquarium and T-Mobile Park at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.
The nonprofit worked with FIFA to develop "social story" venue guides in multiple languages, allowing fans to visualize and prepare for the stadium experience beforehand. Lumen Field's is already available through KultureCity's app.
Srivastava compared it to going out to eat and looking up photos of the food first, just to be sure.
"This helps you visually understand what types of security might look like, where to get the bags from, who to ask for help, what types of uniforms those individuals will be wearing," Srivastava said.
According to FIFA, this year's tournament features new accessibility options, including live sign language interpretation for all matches. These broadcasts are available to fans inside the stadium and watching from afar. Haptic boards for blind and low-vision fans will be provided at select stadiums and audio-descriptive commentary will be on offer for all matches.
Electronics company and World Cup sponsor Hisense is supporting KultureCity's "Make the Nevers Possible campaign by providing complimentary match tickets to families or small groups with sensory needs who may otherwise be unable to attend.
"Football unites the world, and it is our goal to help everyone to participate in the sport - whether as a player or as a fan," Heimo Schirgi, chief operating officer of FIFA World Cup 2026, said in a statement.
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