Seattle and King County saw an $889 million economic impact from FIFA World Cup 26 festivities, according to new figures released by Visit Seattle more than a m
Seattle and King County saw an $889 million economic impact from FIFA World Cup 26 festivities, according to new figures released by Visit Seattle more than a month after the final matches and watch parties wrapped up in the city.
Visit Seattle said the total includes $109 million in state and local tax revenue, which it said benefits government programs including housing, social services and the arts.
The tournament also supported about 20,000 jobs.
“These numbers are a testament to the power of large events and the hospitality industry, and how both can work together to drive economic prosperity in our city and region,” Visit Seattle Chief Business Officer Kelly Saling said. “At the same time, the benefit goes beyond these immediate figures. The way that our city showed up on the global stage, amid all that exposure, will drive visitation to our region for years to come.”
Visit Seattle reported mixed results across the hospitality industry during the 22-day tournament window.
Some businesses saw record days and weeks, while others reported year-over-year declines in sales. Hotels, in particular, saw occupancy rates fall compared with the same period last year, which Visit Seattle attributed to other travel segments — including cruise passengers and convention attendees — being displaced by the tournament. Even so, higher room rates helped drive a year-over-year increase in overall hotel revenue.
The $889 million total is higher than Visit Seattle’s most recent forecast. In December 2024, the organization released a preliminary estimate of $929 million.
After the schedule release, Visit Seattle issued another report in March projecting an $846 million impact, citing factors that suggested fewer international visitors and reduced capital project spending tied to the tournament.
Visit Seattle said the higher-than-expected final total was driven by more international fans attending matches and more overnight visitors coming for watch parties than anticipated.
The addition of a second U.S. Men’s Team match also contributed to the increase.
“This was the summer the world fell in love with Seattle and Washington,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of the SeattleFWC26 Local Organizing Committee. “The FIFA World Cup 2026™ generated nearly $900 million in economic impact, created more than 35 lasting legacy projects, and showcased a region united in purpose and pride. Thanks to Visit Seattle and partners across every sector, we didn’t just host the world, we showed it what makes Seattle extraordinary.”
Visit Seattle said it hired Tourism Economics, a group within Oxford Economics, to produce the analysis using traveler dynamics, quantitative methods and industry knowledge.
