SEATTLE — Seattle ranked as the third-best worldwide host city for fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a new “Fan Experience Index” released by Action Network.
The study evaluated all 16 World Cup host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, measuring factors including accessibility, affordability, atmosphere, safety, weather and hotel availability. Seattle finished behind only Vancouver and Atlanta in the overall rankings.
Action Network said the rankings were designed to measure the overall experience for traveling supporters beyond the matches themselves.
“To find out which destinations offer fans the strongest all-around experience, Action Network analyzed all 16 host cities across five key categories,” the report said.
The index considered travel time to stadiums and walkability, average food and beer prices, bar density and soccer culture, safety scores and expected matchday temperatures, as well as hotel access near stadiums.
Seattle scored a total normalized score of 57.3/100, beat only by Toronto (63.2) and Vancouver (82.2). This also makes it the highest-ranked American host city, ahead of Atlanta and Los Angeles.
With an 89 on walkability, 13.37 bar density, and 2.51 hotel density, the network wrote that “Seattle is the best U.S. all-rounder, pairing a walkable stadium setting with strong pre- and post-match options nearby.”
Seattle’s strong placement reflects the city’s balance of convenience, fan atmosphere and lodging access ahead of the 2026 tournament, which is expected to draw millions of visitors across North America.
The World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
