“U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A”

“México, México, México”

Those were the chants heard across the land at Boxcar Park in Everett the past two weeks as the City of Everett, Port of Everett and Snohomish County Sports Commission (SCSC) partnered to host four Everett official SeattleFWC26™ Fan Zone Waterfront Watch Parties.

Red, white and blue representing the United States, green, white and red supporting México and glimpses of South African, Paraguayan, South Korean and Australian colors filled the two-acre park bordering the Everett Marina to celebrate the opening games of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

México and South Africa in Group A kicked off the tournament on June 11, and Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez both netted goals to give the host nation a 2-0 victory. Approximately 1,500 people attended the first watch party on Thursday afternoon, and that number increased to around 4,500 for the second watch party on Friday evening, June 12. It was there where attendees also witnessed the U.S. tally a 4-1 win against Paraguay in Group D with the first goal being tallied as an own goal followed by two goals from Folarin Balogun and one from Giovanni Reyna.

A week later, the attendance numbers didn’t just increase by a few, they nearly doubled. With 6,000 attendees spanning June 11 and 12, the estimation on Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19, totaled to around 10,900 with 5,200 arriving for the México and South Korea match and 5,700 for the USA and Australia match. Mexico’s Luis Romo netted the team’s only goal in its 1-0 victory over South Korea, and an Aussie own goal and a header from Alex Freeman gave the U.S. a 2-0 win over Australia, which was also the first match held at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), one of the host sites, located about 30 miles south of Boxcar Park.

With nearly 17,000 attendees kicking off their summer at the four, free-admission Fan Zone Watch Parties, the objective of hosting a local gathering was greatly met because it provided everyone, from die-hard football fans and general soccer enthusiasts to current and former soccer players and coaches to parents and their children, an opportunity to come together in one space to appreciate the sport and each other’s cultures. Free shuttle service was also provided via Everett Transit, and many local food trucks pulled up to serve delicious food and refreshing beverages.

“Kicking off the FIFA World Cup 26™ first match, México versus South Africa, at Boxcar Park was a huge ‘GOAL’ for the City of Everett, Port of Everett and Snohomish County Sports Commission,” said Tammy Dunn, SCSC executive director. “To see the smiles on everyone’s face was a joy to experience. Fans in their soccer jerseys supporting their team is a memorable moment for me. The vibe from the first fan zone day was felt throughout all four fan zones. So many fans saying, ‘Thank you. We had a great time!’ A HUGE THANK YOU to our community supporters — Tulalip Resort Casino, Sno-Isle Libraries, Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant, Cedar Grove Compost, Rubatino Refuse Removal Inc. and Anheuser-Busch.”

“One of the most memorable aspects of the FIFA Fan Zone Watch Parties was seeing our community come together around a shared passion for soccer,” said Nathan Caferro, SCSC sports events manager. “The event’s success was made possible through outstanding coordination among our partners, staff and volunteers, resulting in a smooth and seamless experience from start to finish. I got a closer glimpse of this during the second watch party on Friday, June 12, for USA versus Paraguay. From fans enjoying activities in the Kid Zone to others cheering together during the matches, the energy and excitement were felt throughout the event. Seeing so many smiling faces and people connecting through the game made this a truly special experience for our community.”

“It was special to be a part of something that brought our community together and welcomed fans from across the world to Everett,” said Landyn Olson, SCSC sports development coordinator. “My favorite part of the event was greeting people at the gates of Boxcar Park, and while doing this, I got to meet a mother and daughter who traveled all the way from Australia just to experience our fan zones. Thursday, June 18, for México versus South Korea, we were impressed by the attendance of 5,200, and this was a testament to the positive experience everyone had at the first two fan zones. Whenever we are a part of an event, our goal is to create lifelong memories for everyone involved, and we accomplished that across all four fan zones.”

“All four Fan Zone Watch Parties were great opportunities for Everett to bring the community together to celebrate the sport of football,” said Taras McCurdie, SCSC marketing content coordinator. “I really enjoyed capturing scenes when the crowd cheered for goals and ‘politely’ disagreed with the referee’s calls. But most importantly, I appreciated how the emcees, Jaime Méndez and Diana Oliveros with Se Habla Media, entertained the crowd and welcomed both of the nations’ fan bases. That’s the beauty of this sport. I heard comments that people enjoyed these events and wanted more, so this is a good step moving forward for the Sports Commission to see the impact we can create with our local partners.”

Visit https://snocosports.org/event-recap-nearly-17000-attend-everett-official-seattlefwc26-fan-zone-waterfront-watch-parties/ for article and gallery.