Hosting the World Cup is an expensive task for cities, and Redmond, which is just outside of Seattle, is already setting money aside. Although there are no new stadium constructions for the 2026 World Cup, funds go to staffing, promotions, marketing and similar expenses. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-reveals-plan-for-club-world-cup-at-seattles-lumen-field/">Lumen Field</a> is not in Redmond, which is on the east side of the greater Seattle area. However, city executives expect Redmond to be a major hub for the tournament with an influx of fans.



Speaking to the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2024/10/16/redmond-fifa-world-cup-angela-birney-soccer.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puget Sound Business Journal</a>, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney revealed the city has set aside $2 million in taxpayer money for the 2026 World Cup. Despite the 19-mile drive between the two cities, there is an Eastside light rail that will link the two areas. The hope is for that light rail to be open by the time the World Cup kicks off in the summer of 2026. Having $2 million ready will, in the eyes of the Redmond Mayor, allow the city to have a foothold on benefiting from the World Cup.



For example, Birney said a portion of that $2 million will go to local businesses looking to host watch parties or related events. Currently, the Seattle organizing group for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/world-cup-2026-stadiums-to-use-new-names-per-fifa-rules/">2026 World Cup</a>, SeattleFWC26, mentioned that certain areas in and around the state of Washington will be hubs for fans. The only confirmed location is the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2024/10/02/world-cup-seattle-center-fifa-washington.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">main hub at the Seattle Center</a> near the famous Seattle Space Needle. Birney hopes that Redmond can be one of those celebration hubs where fans who do not have tickets can take part in the festivities. 



Granted, Redmond still must pass this budget. The City Council must approve the proposed budget before Nov. 21.



<h2>Can Seattle, Redmond benefit from costly World Cup in 2026?</h2>



Birney did not elaborate on what helping local businesses would look like as part of the funding, nor did she specify how much of the $2 million in taxpayer money would go to businesses. The only concrete figures available so far are $748,000 toward the aforementioned staffing, including police and fire to accommodate more people. Additionally, more than $472,000 is for promotional and event costs that, according to Birney, maximize the chances of economic development in the area.



Birney wants to develop the outskirts of the Seattle area with the World Cup in town. However, that has not been a clear product of hosting the World Cup. Stadium construction, employment and promotional activities have left recent World Cup hosts short on money. If anything, the World Cup is a chance to show off prestige, and Birney recognizes that. Park maintenance and street cleanup to make the Redmond area stand out are part of the $2 million budget the city has set aside.



In any case, the World Cup in Seattle presents an opportunity for Redmond. Like many of the areas surrounding host cities, Redmond wants to take advantage. Soccer continues to grow in the United States, and the World Cup in 2026 is a potential high-water point. 



“I just really want to put our best foot forward and show off what we have here between the light rail opening, amazing parks, the great businesses and hotels,” Birney said. “I want us to be the place people want to go after the World Cup to come visit to do all the things you can do in our region.”



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Redmond budgets $2 million of taxpayer's money for World Cup

Hosting the World Cup is an expensive task for cities, and Redmond, which is just outside of Seattle, is already setting money aside.

FIFA has announced that the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/seattle-sounders-tv-schedule/">Seattle Sounders</a> will have somewhat of a home-field advantage at Lumen Field for the 2025 Club World Cup. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> side previously qualified for the controversial tournament by winning the 2022 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/concacaf-champions-league-tv-schedule/">CONCACAF Champions Cup</a>. Seattle is currently the only American team to book a place in the competition, but this is expected to soon change.



Three other CONCACAF clubs, all from Mexico, will also feature at the upcoming Club World Cup as well. Monterrey, Leon, and Pachuca all qualified thanks to similar Champions Cup triumphs as Seattle. Nevertheless, as hosts, the United States has another club at the tournament. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> is likely the final American team, but FIFA has not confirmed the move yet.



<h2>Sounders will play all of their Club World Cup group games at Lumen Field</h2>



As the current marquee American club in the competition, FIFA has rewarded Seattle with multiple home games. The governing body announced on Tuesday that all three of the club’s group-stage matches will be at Lumen Field. Seattle could then also play again at their home arena if they progress to the knockout stage. 



“Six games of the FIFA Club World Cup will take place in this stadium, and the three games of the group stage of the Seattle Sounders will take place here,” <a href="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/seattle-lumen-field-host-six-games" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> FIFA president Gianni Infantino while posing inside Lumen Field.



“So, we want to hear some noise, and the World Cup [noise record] being broken in this stadium by the Seattle Sounders fans during the FIFA Club World Cup next year.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241015_WST_535259_Lumen-Field-USA-1200x675_8a64fe7e.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-535272" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lumen-Field-USA-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lumen-Field-USA-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lumen-Field-USA-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lumen-Field-USA-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lumen-Field-USA.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Seattle regularly features near the top of the annual MLS attendance figures. The Sounders averaged the third-most fans in stands among all teams in the division in each of the last two seasons. Lumen Field has a general max capacity of just under 38,000 fans during MLS matches. The arena, however, can accommodate up to 72,000 people in the stands for other events.



Seattle’s stadium currently features artificial turf. Natural grass inside the arena was not possible due to the city’s frequent rain totals. Officials believed that real grass would suffer because of the weather conditions. Despite this, FIFA generally forces venues to install real grass for their competitions.



<h2>FIFA is forcing host stadiums to change their names for the tournament</h2>



There will be 63 total matches in the expanded 2025 Club World Cup. The tournament is happening across 11 different American venues. Assuming all, or at least a vast majority of the games, will split evenly between the 11 stadiums, Seattle receiving six fixtures is slightly above average. It remains unclear which arenas will host fewer matches.



Lumen Field is hosting six total games. The arena will go by a different name for the duration of the competition. FIFA is forcing the 2026 World Cup <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/world-cup-2026-stadiums-to-use-new-names-per-fifa-rules/">host stadiums to change their names</a>. For instance, Lumen Field will be simply “Seattle Stadium.”



FIFA’s decision to temporarily rename host stadiums ultimately comes down to sponsorship issues. The governing body has strict rules over branding and will only allow official FIFA sponsors at the competition.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

FIFA reveals plan for Club World Cup at Seattle's Lumen Field

FIFA has announced that the Seattle Sounders will have somewhat of a home-field advantage at Lumen Field for the 2025 Club World Cup.

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FIFA reveals plan for Club World Cup at Seattle's Lumen Field