Renton preps downtown for hosting World Cup action

The city of Renton is preparing for next year’s World Cup — and hosting a national team — by improving its downtown public spaces.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico next summer. Seattle has been named a host city for World Cup matches, while the city of Renton recently announced it will be hosting a national team at the Seattle Sounders facility during and prior to the main competition.

Qualifiers are currently underway, and teams competing in the World Cup will be determined after the qualifiers are completed in March 2026. The playing locations for the matches have already been scheduled, so the federations will then decide where their teams will reside and practice based on scheduled games’ locations and the desirability of the facilities.

Renton administrative assistant Gina Estep said they anticipate the World Cup and hosting a significant team in Renton to provide an “amazing uplift in positive energy” and an economic boost to the community.

“This is an opportunity to put Renton on the global stage from both a cultural and a visual standpoint. We’re excited to be a part of it and we’re ready to leverage the positive aspects of this event to help support our existing businesses and even to recruit new ones,” Estep said.

Estep said the city has been working with the Seattle Sports Commission — and the rest of the Puget Sound region — to prepare for the event while trying to create a unique celebration for Renton. She said the city is working on the preparations and events that will be rolling out in September.

Legacy Square

For now, Estep said the city’s focus is on readying Renton’s downtown for events.

“Most of the World Cup events will be hosted right in the heart of downtown,” Estep said. “We have right now a currently vacant public lot that sits just west of the city pavilion and piazza, and we are going to renovate that into what we are calling the Legacy Square.”

Estep said Legacy Square, South Third Street and Logan Avenue South, will be used for public events and watch parties during the World Cup.

“This vacant lot is definitely an area of town that could be reimagined,” Estep said. “Public gathering spaces we feel are a vital component of a healthy, safe community, often uplifting quality of life through human connection and activities.”

Estep said their vision is to make the downtown a hub for the community with “positive human activity” such as art, live music and other events.

The Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Local Organizing Committee recently announced it will be partnering with nine locations across Washington to host “fan zones,” which may feature live entertainment, interactive fan activities, and food and beverage for locals and tourists watching World Cup matches. Renton was not included in the announcement of cities.

Estep said they were in contact with the committee when areas were being chosen, but the committee was looking for areas that could accommodate large numbers of people with parking and accessibility.

“We’re seeing (Legacy Square) as not only a place where we are inviting tourists from all around the region to come and join the city of Renton celebrating the World Cup, but really this is an opportunity for our citizens to come down, enjoy watching the World Cup on the large jumbo screen and connecting with each other downtown.”

Estep said the public viewing area will also help eliminate the hurdle of paying for a streaming service or cable that may keep people from enjoying the matches.

Renderings of the future square include a jumbo screen, a mini pitch/court and a potential play area for children. Courtesy of the city of Renton