Seattle’s small businesses just got a game plan for the world’s biggest sports tournament, and it does not involve guesswork. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has rolled out a Small Business Readiness Playbook to help local shops, restaurants and service providers gear up for the FIFA World Cup matches Seattle is set to host in June and July 2026. The guide bundles checklists, marketing templates and operational tips so owners can prepare for the expected surge of visiting fans.
According to the Seattle Metro Chamber, the playbook was created with input from storefront businesses, service providers, freelancers and local agencies across Washington. The resource is described as being “organized around the full lifecycle of a major event,” covering marketing, operations, safety and risk management so owners can both take advantage of higher foot traffic and steer clear of common headaches. “We approached this work by listening first,” Vaughn Taylor, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development, said in the release.
The rollout also caught the attention of the Puget Sound Business Journal, which reported on January 22 that the Chamber is serving as the statewide small business liaison for SeattleFWC26. That coverage framed the guide as a practical tool for downtown retailers and neighborhood businesses expecting heavier weekend crowds when match days hit.
What’s in the playbook
On the Seattle Metro Chamber World Cup hub, the playbook is laid out as a step-by-step toolkit. It includes pre-event planning checklists, staffing and inventory templates, day-of operations plans and sample marketing materials that small businesses can customize. The hub also points to companion resources, such as a Watch Party Playbook and training modules, so owners can coordinate everything from staffing levels to in-store promotions for match days. The Chamber notes that the toolkit is meant to be reused for other large events, not only the 2026 tournament.
Watch parties and licensing
The Seattle Sports Commission’s Watch Party Playbook spells out that larger public screenings – especially commercial events or gatherings above 1,000 people – require a TV license from FIFA and tight compliance with trademark rules. It walks hosts through the basics of licensing and crowd safety. The 2026 tournament runs from June 11 through July 19, 2026, with Seattle among the host cities and multiple matches scheduled for Lumen Field.
Training, neighborhoods and the numbers
SeattleFWC26 and the Chamber say they will offer training through the Community Business Connector program and station neighborhood liaisons in the Chinatown-International District, SODO and Pioneer Square to work directly with businesses. Organizers estimate up to 750,000 fans could arrive across the Puget Sound region over the roughly three-week tournament, and they plan official fan zones in nine Washington cities to spread visitors beyond downtown Seattle…