On July 22, Highline College hosted a forum on campus in which a presentation was given by Explore Seattle Southside about the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Seattle, and the positive effect it could have on the surrounding area.
The Highline Forum meets every other month to discuss developments in the Seattle Southside region. Meetings are held online and in-person at a rotation of organizations, and are open to the public.
Representatives who take part in the forums are from Port of Seattle, Airport Impacted Communities and Institutions, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Seatac, Tukwila, along with Federal Way Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, and Highline College.
With next year’s World Cup less than a year away, audience members were given a preview of what the global tournament means for Seattle Southside. The games are expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors to the region.
Mark Everton, CEO of Explore Seattle Southside noted that now would be the perfect time for cities in the local area to prepare for the increase in tourism, by making improvements.
“Whether it’s the (city’s) gateway signage…or whether it’s tying the dining district together to celebrate diversity,” Everton said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Six games will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, from June 15 through July 6.
The soccer teams, which are yet to be announced, will start arriving in the region in the weeks and days ahead of the games. Soccer fans will be present in the area from the second week of June through the second week of July.
Everton said further updates will be given, in future forums, about how the region is getting ready for the World Cup.
In addition to the World Cup presentation, Highline College’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Josh Gerstman, opened the forum with a warm welcome and a presentation about advancements being made at the college. Dr. Tanya Powers, Associate Dean for BAS and Workforce Pathways, gave a presentation on Workforce programs and resources at Highline.
The next Highline Forum will take place September 24, 2025 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the City of Des Moines, Police Training Room.