Founded in 1904, the International Federation of Association Football—better known by its French acronym, FIFA—was established to unite national soccer associations worldwide.
The FIFA World Cup, the world's most important soccer tournament, and one of the most watched tournaments of any sport, is held every four years. The upcoming World Cup is set to be the largest in history, introducing a new format that expands the competition to three host countries across North America, 16 host cities, 48 teams and 104 matches. The tournament will take place June 11 to July 19.
Looking for things to do in Bellevue?
There are plenty of exciting events in Bellevue, click on the links below to connect with upcoming local community events and learn how to submit an event.
Visit Bellevue Washington Calendar - Offers a full-list of Bellevue fun events that reflects our city's exciting atmosphere and diverse population. Have an upcoming event? Submit your event at Visit Bellevue Washington.
BelRed Arts District Event Calendar - This Eastside calendar offers a central resource to discover a variety of arts and cultural events on the eastern side of Lake Washington. Submit your cultural and arts events at BelRed Arts District.
SeattleFWC26 Community Events Calendar - A community event calendar of all 2026 global soccer-related activations across the state for local and traveling fans. Submit an event to share your 2026 related events with us!
Seattle will host six matches, on the following dates:
| Day | Date and Time | Round | Match-up |
| Monday | 6/15 at 12:00pm PT | Group Stage | Belgium vs. Egypt |
| Friday | 6/19 at 12:00pm PT | Group Stage | U.S.A. vs. Australia |
| Wednesday | 6/24 at 12:00pm PT | Group Stage | Qatar vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Friday | 6/26 at 8:00pm PT | Group Stage | Egypt vs. Iran |
| Wednesday | 7/1 at TBD | Round of 32 | TBD |
| Monday | 76 at TBD | Round of 16 | TBD |
We’ve compiled answers to frequently-asked questions on this page, but please reach out to us if you have any additional questions.
Resources for Residents
How the City is Preparing
The city is collaborating with various organizations in the community to create a unified and comprehensive approach to the World Cup. This partnership aims to highlight the best of what Bellevue has to offer—a vibrant, dynamic community that is both well-organized and ready to welcome to visitors from around the world. Together with the Bellevue Downtown Association, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, BelRed Arts District and Visit Bellevue, the city is working to ensure that we exceed all expectations for this international event, leaving a lasting positive impression on visitors and residents alike.
Connect with our partners:
What to Expect
Summertime is Bellevue’s peak season for tourism, with hotel occupancy often surpassing 80% in June and July. While the World Cup will bring an influx of visitors, it won’t drastically alter the city’s usual summer rhythm. Expect a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. At the same time, Bellevue offers plenty of pockets of tranquility, ensuring that visitors and residents alike can still find space to relax and enjoy the city’s charm.
Hosting Events and Watch Parties
Are you considering hosting an event or watch party?
You may need a permit from the City—especially if you're planning a larger event or activity, if you'll need city resources (like police staffing), or if you're using a City street. If you're planning on showing the games live, you'll need to comply with FIFA's regulations for marketing and viewing licenses.
Check out our FIFA Event Planning page for more information.
Transportation
The City strongly recommends use of public transit, including the 2 Line, which connects directly to Seattle and Redmond. Note that for those attending games at Seattle Stadium, Sound Transit requests all guests traveling from Bellevue on the 2 Line to exit the train at Chinatown/International District Station.
Staff are actively monitoring anticipated traffic volumes and will make adjustments as necessary.
- Stay informed about transit service disruptions by subscribing to Sound Transit's service alerts page.
- Stay informed about traffic in Bellevue by subscribing to our traffic advisories.
Public Safety
Public safety is always a top priority, and with an event of this scale, it becomes even more critical. To stay informed and prepared, be sure to sign up for alerts from the city, King County and the National Weather Service. These updates will provide real-time information on weather conditions, emergency notifications, road closures and safety measures being implemented during the event. Alerts and Notifications
Renting your Home
Are you thinking about renting out your home during this time period? Familiarize yourself with Bellevue's Residential Rental Regulations.
Resources for Businesses
Hosting Events and Watch Parties
Are you considering hosting an event or watch party?
You may need a permit from the City—especially if you're planning a larger event or activity, if you'll need city resources (like police staffing), or if you're using a City street. If you're planning on showing the games live, you'll need to comply with FIFA's regulations for marketing and viewing licenses. Check out our FIFA Event Planning page for more information.
Share Your Events
Are you planning a program, event, watch party, game, or any other soccer‑themed activity while the World Cup is in our region this summer? We’d love to help you get the word out!
Add your event to Visit Bellevue’s community calendar so residents and visitors looking for soccer‑related activities can easily find you. Just head to Visit Bellevue’s “Submit Your Event” page and share your details, we’ll take it from there!
Operational, Marketing, and Staff Planning
Because there will be more visitors in the region during the FIFA World Cup, and we expect a different audience than in a typical summer, it's important to plan for any operational, marketing, or staffing changes you may need to make to best take advantage of this opportunity. The local organizing committee and the City have a number of resources to help:
- Small Business Megaevent Playbook and other resources from the Seattle Chamber of Commerce: These playbooks are intended to help you self-plan for your business during the world cup. They include tips on things like marketing and merchandising, but also useful information on hosting watch parties, presenting a unified regional "look" for visitors, and preventing human trafficking.
- Community Business Connector one-on-one advising: Through the Community Business Connector, businesses can receive one-on-one assistance to help plan for this summer, including on things like operational readiness, marketing strategies, and day-of logistics. Don't wait—assistance is available through June 1.
Resources for Visitors
Things To Do in Bellevue
Looking for something fun to do in Bellevue?
Whether you're interested in live music, cultural festivals, outdoor activities, a great new restaurant or community events, there's always something happening in the city! Make sure to check out Visit Bellevue's Event Calendar to stay updated on the latest happenings and find exciting events to enjoy.