Seattle shows it has 2026 World Cup fever as tournament kicks off

Whether it was down on the waterfront, near the stadium that will host matches, in small bars or in large gathering spaces, the Seattle area showed up for the first day of the FIFA Men's World Cup.

It helped that one of the host countries was taking part in the opening match on Thursday afternoon with Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa. But soccer fans in Seattle and the surrounding area took time to gather and watch the start of the tournament - many of them decked out in Mexico jerseys.

Lines snaked along Alaskan Way for a chance to get into Waterfront Park for the public viewing session on Elliott Bay. The Armory at Seattle Center was packed, as was Victory Hall across from T-Mobile Park, where an estimated 1,500 spectators gathered to watch El Tri open the tournament with a victory.

And we're still four days away from the first match being played here with Belgium and Egypt set to meet Monday afternoon.

Here's a snippet of vignettes from various spots around the area as the World Cup kicked off.

Pier 62

South African twins Chelsea and Chase Hutchinson were anxious during their ride to Seattle's Waterfront Park from Tacoma. They attended matches and parties when their country hosted the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2010 and wondered how the U.S. would host the global event.

Surrounded by fans draped in Mexico's colors - from sombreros and face paint to green soccer jerseys and the nation's flag - the Hutchinsons felt the unity and party vibe expected of a Word Cup.

"(Thursday) was definitely going to be an indication of whether the World Cup was going to be popular," Chase said as South Africa trailed Mexico in the tournament's opening match. "The first day is really good, we're having a good time out here."

Bathed in 70-degree sunshine with a cool breeze off Elliott Bay, predominantly Mexico fans started forming lines for the "Soccer Celebration" at Pier 62 approximately three hours before it opened at 11 a.m. and long lines remained through Mexico's 2-0 win.

MLS worked with FIFA to help the Sounders and Reign broadcast matches on two massive screens. The ticketed but free space on the pier was capped at 686 people and the floating barge, which costs and was restricted to Sounders and Reign ticket holders Thursday, was limited to 500 people.

Many views from Mexico City Stadium, where the group-stage match was played, reflected those around the pier. Fans from a rooftop on Alaskan Way, the stairs leading down to the waterfront from Pike Place Market and within the fanfest belted the national anthem, roared for the goals, chanted "MEX-I-CO!" and danced to the song "La Chona" when blared from the speakers.

Former Sounders defender Brad Evans emceed and tried to shut down the party after the match to reopen at 5 p.m. for the Korea Republic-Czechia game, but few wanted to leave. The "Soccer Celebration" plans to host 24 events through July 6, which coincides with the last World Cup match Seattle will hold at Lumen Field.

"If I had the money, I'd probably fly down to Mexico," said Jose Esqueda, a Seattleite who wore a Mexico jersey with "Vargas" on the back for former Sounders international Obed Vargas. "This is second best."

Atlantic Crossing

At noted soccer hangout Atlantic Crossing, a couple blocks off Green Lake, the opening of the tournament brought a mostly packed restaurant and bar with a few fans taking advantage of the nice weather and outdoor seating with a TV pointed in their direction.

The early goal by Julián Quiñones relieved any early stress or anxiety for the handful of fans decked out in Mexico jerseys. But there were plenty of other oohs and shouts throughout a first half of near misses for El Tri as they attempted to extend the lead.

At the bar, Mexico City native Jorge Mendez wished he could be back home experiencing the atmosphere around the city.

"The first World Cup I actually remember is Mexico '86, watching my dad and granddad and basically the city just transforming and just going all in," Mendez said. "I've never missed a World Cup match of Mexico."

Sitting next to Mendez was Violet Resnick. Soccer is her sport, to the point she traveled to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"I feel like I sit through my husband watching the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, and March Madness and now is my turn," she said. "It's fun to see everyone gather together around the cause."

Resnick recalled being at the 2014 tournament and taking a cab from outside of the city of Manaus near the Amazon rainforest to the stadium for a match. But the driver needed to keep up on what else was going on in the tournament. So as he drove, he was also watching the current game being played on his phone, held up on the dashboard, she said.

"Even if you can't go to a match, if you can get to an official watch party or meeting at bar like this at noon and feeling that energy is really fun," Resnick said.

Carnitas Michoacan

Seated high upon its throne - a refrigerator filled with flan and tres leches - near the front counter, the unnamed pig mascot of Carnitas Michoacan, a Mexican restaurant in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, is appropriately dressed for the occasion.

The stuffed animal is draped in the famed green jersey of El Tri, while on its head rests a large, woven sombrero with "Viva Mexico" stitched into the raised brim.

It's the perfect vantage point to see the televisions over the mixed crowd of nearly 50 regular patrons and El Tri fans gathered at the restaurant to watch the FIFA Men's World Cup's opening match between their beloved Mexico and South Africa. All while the scents of carnitas, tacos dorados, caldo de res and coctel de camarones and the sounds of TUDN's Spanish broadcast filled the small restaurant.

"It unites the people," Yair Vasquez, a patron at the restaurant said. "It's a time when everyone comes together and watches the game as a family or as friends. It's a time where we connect."

There were blue-collar workers, drinking beers, whistling whenever Mexico took a shot on goal and calling for - and witnessing - South African red cards while exclaiming "No Mames," in disbelief at every foul called against El Tri.

In the middle of the restaurant, a group of 11 students from a local high school, who admitted they were cutting class to watch Mexico, groaned in agony when Raul Jimenez's volley within the game's first five minutes was saved. Four minutes later, they led the restaurant's cheers when Quiñones gave El Tri the lead.

"Even though we get disappointed from time to time, we still love being here and watching them play," Ariel Cuevas, another fan watching the game, said. "It's inspiring, especially for many Mexicans. Sometimes, we're looked down upon. So when we see El Tri doing great and winning games against big teams, it makes us so confident."

Alejandra Flores, a local paralegal, celebrated her birthday by donning a black Mexico baseball jersey and watching El Tri with her co-workers at Carnitas Michoacan, which she dubbed a local landmark, during their lunch break. Flores said having a gathering place to watch the games is particularly important given the challenges the Mexican American community has endured in the United States during recent years.

"It's good to be in a place where you have community," she said. "Where you can be yourself. Authentically."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.