Mayor Michelle Wu sending Seattle youth to FIFA World Cup match after Patriots Super Bowl loss
After the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29 to 13, Wu confirmed that Boston will help send young people from Seattle to a World Cup match when the tournament comes to the region.
The friendly bet between Wu and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson tied the NFL championship outcome to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring matches to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
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Wu said publicly that the agreement included World Cup tickets for youth from the winning city. With Seattle securing the Super Bowl victory, Boston will now follow through.
“A deal is a deal,” Wu said while discussing World Cup preparations in Boston.
City Hall Plaza has been selected as the official FIFA Fan Festival location for the matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium. The site will host public viewing events and related programming tied to the 2026 tournament.
Wu also acknowledged the role of Boston 26, the local organizing committee coordinating World Cup efforts in the region. Seattle has a similar host committee, Seattle 26.
Boston officials have not publicly detailed how many Seattle youth will receive tickets, how they will be selected, or how the tickets will be funded.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also congratulated Washington state following the Patriots’ loss, adding that the wager would include sending traditional New England items west.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Gillette Stadium is scheduled to host multiple matches during the tournament.
Ticket pricing has been a global topic ahead of the World Cup. Listings on third party resale platforms have reached extremely high prices, including six figure listings for the final. FIFA does not set resale prices on secondary marketplaces but receives a percentage of resale transactions through its official platform.
In Seattle, ticket prices for matches at Lumen Field have also varied widely depending on opponent and stage of play. Local officials there have indicated interest in making tickets accessible for youth and underserved communities.
Boston’s wager now connects the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the world’s largest sporting event, bringing Seattle youth to a World Cup match in New England.
