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Seattle council approves spending to prepare city infrastructure for 2026 World Cup events
Summary
Council bill 121032, authorizing use of previously set-aside funds to prepare Seattle for the 2026 World Cup, passed unanimously; city leaders cited pedestrian safety, park investments and public-safety equipment among uses.
The Seattle City Council on Aug. 5 approved council bill 121032, authorizing the city to spend funds previously set aside to prepare for next year’s FIFA World Cup events. The bill passed unanimously on the council floor.
Council member Strauss, chairing the committee that reviewed the measure, said money set aside in last year’s budget would now be authorized for use on projects to prepare the city for expected visitor volumes. Strauss said the package includes pedestrian-safety improvements, investments in parks and “critical funding for public safety such as investments to protect pedestrians from vehicle attacks and funding for the Seattle Fire Department to purchase chemical weapon detection.”
Council President Pro Tem Robert Kettle noted presentations indicating a substantial temporary increase in people coming to the city tied to World Cup activities, citing a presentation by PSRC that projected roughly 800,000 visitors over a three-month period. "We are about to double the size of our city for 3 months, and this bill is gonna help us fund the investments that will help us be ready for this," Strauss said on the floor.
Council members emphasized that several of the investments would have benefits beyond the event, including ongoing pedestrian safety improvements and park upgrades. The ordinance was signed by the chair following the unanimous vote.
Council members also briefly noted the potential for federal involvement; Pro Tem Kettle said, "Hopefully, the federal government does not, become an obstruction to this," while urging readiness.
The bill authorizes spending the previously appropriated funds; the floor discussion did not enumerate specific project contracts or dollar-by-dollar breakdowns during the council session.
