South Snohomish County World Cup survival guide: What to know and where to go during the Seattle FIFA games

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is touching down in Seattle, and South Snohomish County is gearing up for an influx of global soccer fans. From community watch parties to countywide interactive activities, this is your guidebook for navigating, celebrating and surviving the tournament in Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace. 

Match schedule 

Seattle is set to host six matches at Lumen Field, temporarily rebranded as Seattle Stadium to comply with FIFA regulations. The following matches are scheduled for Seattle: 

• Monday, June 15 at noon: Belgium vs. Egypt.
• Friday, June 19 at noon: USA vs. Australia.
• Wednesday, June 24 at noon: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar.
• Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m.: Egypt vs. Iran.
• Wednesday, July 1 at 1 p.m.: Round of 32.
• Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m.: Round of 16.

Economic impact

In May, the Washington Hospitality Association reported the matches would bring about $845 million in total economic impact to the Seattle region, with an expected $96 million in state and local tax revenue and supporting 20,000 jobs, per the Washington State Standard. This is about a 10% drop in FIFA’s initial projections from 2024. 

However, local hotel bookings aren’t tracking with expectations. According to a survey from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, 80% of Seattle hoteliers reported that bookings were below expectations. Additionally, Seattle’s flight trends are also lagging, 21% lower than this time in 2025, per CNBC. 

This trend is also occurring in Snohomish County. At a county hoteliers meetup last week, most people reported that bookings weren’t performing as expected, Lynnwood Tourism Project Manager Ryan Bush told My Lynnwood News Friday. 

However, hope is growing as the games draw closer. 

“They all said bookings were starting to tick up for the match on Monday,” Bush said. “It seems like the trend is that people are booking rooms about five to seven days out from the match.” 

This isn’t unique to Seattle, according to CNBC. Historically, 35% of hotel bookings in World Cup host cities occur about seven days before travel.

On the other hand, CNBC also reports that Airbnb is on track to have its best year ever. Airbnb rentals are also trending better than hotels in Snohomish County, County Tourism Marketing Specialist Nick Shekeryk told Lynnwood Today. 

To incentivize travel, the company announced Tuesday that select stays in the region could come with complementary match tickets. Further, first-time Airbnb hosts can receive a $750 reward for hosting their first guests before July 31. 

While World Cup fans might not head to the suburbs as expected, Shekeryk said Snohomish County can be a more affordable and convenient alternative. With the county sitting at the halfway point between Seattle and Vancouver – another host city – Shekeryk said the price of food, goods and lodging are cheaper, parking is easier and transit options like the light rail make it easy to get to Seattle while avoiding I-5 traffic. 

“Snohomish County is the place to be and the place to stay,” he said. “You’re going to find everything you need here. We’ve got 2,000 square miles of fun from the Salish Sea all the way to the Cascade Mountains and everything in between. There’s just endless amounts of things to do here.” 

Transportation

Commuters can expect round-the-clock traffic delays, as the midday match start times are expected to spill into the typical rush hours. 

In an attempt to ease the strain, local transit authorities have expanded hours to meet demand. For the Link light rail, trains will run every eight minutes from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on match days, with downtown Seattle trains arriving every four minutes. 

More Sounder trains will also be added during the six games. An additional special event train will leave Everett a few hours before each match, with an additional train scheduled to depart north an hour after matches end. View the full schedule here. 

The Zip Alderwood shuttle, Lynnwood’s on-demand rideshare service, can also help bring people to the light rail station for $2.50 – the same price as bus fare. Community Transit also extended Zip Shuttle service hours until 2 a.m. every day between June 1 and July 12. View the service map and learn more about the shuttle here. 

Find more transportation information at Sound Transit’s website. 

Parking

The Lynnwood City Center station parking garage regularly reaches capacity before 7:30 a.m. on weekdays, so parking will be especially limited on match days. Riders are encouraged to use alternative parking sites, such as the Ash Way Park and Ride (1,005 spaces) or Swamp Creek Park and Ride (405 spaces), where they can catch the Swift Orange Line to the light rail station.

Sound Transit also offers free carpool parking permits at the Lynnwood City Center garage, guaranteeing you a parking space until 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Reserve the parking pass here. Additionally, some private hotels near the Lynnwood station, such as the Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard Marriott, are setting up paid hourly parking based on demand, Bush said, but the logistics are still unfolding. Last month, the Lynnwood City Council passed an ordinance to remove the City’s ban on paid parking in the City Center, but so far no other businesses have taken advantage of this, he said. 

Drivers also might have better luck finding parking by driving a stop south to the Mountlake Terrace station. 

Visit the City of Lynnwood’s website for more information on light rail parking. 

Events and activities 

There will be several countywide activities and experiences during the games, including the Great Soccer Ball Hunt, inviting fans on a scavenger hunt for five giant buoys designed by local artists hidden across parks in the County. 

Everett is also an official FIFA Fan Zone, with free waterfront watch parties available at Boxcar Park. 

The Discover Snohomish County website has an array of World Cup resources. It includes a comprehensive countywide event calendar, lodging information, small business help and general guidelines for navigating the region, whether you’re attending games in Seattle or celebrating at a local business. 

You can also follow @discoversnoco on Instagram or Facebook to stay in the loop. 

Lynnwood 

The Lynnwood Chamber of Commerce’s Events and Experiences Map is your one-stop-shop for entertainment in Lynnwood. The website includes a comprehensive list of events and businesses, with options to filter search results just to your taste. 

Dave & Buster’s and Fogo de Chão are among Lynnwood businesses hosting multiple watch parties throughout June. Find the event schedule here. 

On June 27, Soccer Shots Seattle is hosting a free family funday at South Lynnwood Park for kids ages five and up. The Lynnwood Library is also hosting a “Kick it at the Library” viewing party that day from 3 to 6 p.m. 

The Lynnwood Public Facilities District is also launching Summer Sounds this year – a new outdoor concert and market series on June 17, July 9 and July 29. 

Bowlero Lynnwood is also offering a World Cup watch party special. Learn more here. 

Visit the City’s website for more Lynnwood World Cup information. 

Edmonds

Salish Sea Brewing Company has dubbed itself as Edmonds’ ‘World Soccer HQ,’ with watch parties and activities scheduled nearly every day. 

Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant and Edmonds Theater are also hosting watch parties. 

Learn more about these events and other Edmonds World Cup resources here. 

Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace is launching the MLT Passport Adventure from June 11 to 19 – a citywide initiative to get residents into the soccer spirit while exploring local businesses. 

Resources 

The Visit Seattle website includes a comprehensive World Cup guide, ranging from tourist tips to vital safety information. 

The Washington Hospitality Association has a vast library of resources for local business owners. 

For general World Cup information, visit the FIFA Seattle website. 

— Contact Ashley at [email protected].