Seattle is gearing up to be the center of the soccer universe as it prepares to host two major FIFA events - the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the much-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. The task is monumental, with the Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD) leading the charge to handle the complex logistics and security challenges such events will invariably bring. According to the Washington Military Department, planning for these events began years ago to strategically map out every conceivable scenario and ensure a coordinated response.
Robert Ezelle, director of EMD, highlighted the intensity of the preparations. "You have to prepare for every scenario, so it’s a heavy lift for emergency managers and first responders. It’s already all hands on deck," Ezelle told the Washington Military Department. The 2026 World Cup, in particular, will present new challenges as it's the first tournament to be hosted jointly by three nations and to feature an expanded roster of 48 teams. The event is expected to attract roughly 750,000 visitors to the Pacific Northwest.
John Diaz, Seattle’s chief of security for the 2026 World Cup, emphasized the importance of unity among various agencies. "Effective preparedness requires an all-hazards approach," Diaz stated in a Washington Military Department release. "That includes close coordination and planning with our state, local, tribal, and federal partners to address potential risks from every angle."
Seattle's Lumen Field will serve as a proving ground during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for the comprehensive plans. The local teams, such as the Seattle Sounders FC, will participate in six of the matches, which will provide valuable real-time data for EMD and its partners to possibly adjust their strategies before the larger event the following year. EMD's preparedness section manager, Casey Broom, stressed the importance of adaptability. "We’re currently building a unified, scalable approach to address everything from security threats to transportation challenges, to public health emergencies," Broom explained in the Washington Military Department release.
