SEATTLE, Wash. – A palpable sense of energy and excitement can be felt throughout the city of Seattle, as it prepares itself to be one of the many host cities at next year’s World Cup. While most of the world will be fixated on each and every game, not everyone will be able to attend games in person, with premium tickets being well outside of most fans’ economic means. With that in mind, West Seattle Junction FC and West Seattle Rhodies FC are excited to bring a comparable level of excitement, for all to enjoy, to Seattle during the World Cup games, thanks to the Open Goal Initiative.
Both clubs, alongside local non-profit partners West Seattle YMCA, West Seattle Foodbank, White Center Foodbank, and the Backpack Brigade, will work to bring equitable access to the beautiful game for the entire community.
Through scholarships, grants, and partnerships with community programs throughout the greater Seattle area, the clubs will be able to offer 300 free tickets to each of their 12 home matches, as well as 100 fully funded scholarships per 2026 summer youth clinic hosted in King County District 8. Concessions and merchandise discounts will accompany the tickets, with pre-match activations and inclusion in half-time festivities also on offer.
“As a 25+ year volunteer with local youth soccer clubs in West Seattle, it always brings me great pleasure to visit our fields during weekend games and see the smiling faces in colorful uniforms of our youth enjoying the beautiful game,” shared Tim McMonigle, who serves as the Business Owner and part-owner for both clubs. “Since we created both teams, it has been one of our major goals to connect our youth players in the West Seattle community to soccer veterans in a big way. With the Open Goal initiative, the connection will be made stronger as we make it easier for our soccer youth to experience great soccer right in our community.”
The utilization of public facilities, parks, and open spaces in King County District 8, alongside the support of club players, coaches, and staff will make these match and clinic opportunities as close to a World Cup level experience as possible.
West Seattle Junction FC and West Seattle Rhodies FC would like to offer a very special thanks to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Councilman Rob Saka, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Seattle Public School Board President Gina Topp for supporting this initiative.
“We have been very thankful that our community fans and now our community leaders have embraced us and have joined us in this mission to make the beautiful game accessible to anyone that wants to participate,” McMonigle added.
Open Goal will not just create memorable experiences for thousands of residents, but it will also strengthen community bonds, uplift local youth, and showcase the clubs and their partners as leaders in equitable access to global events. Click HERE to learn more about how Open Goal will aim to bring the vibrant spirit of the World Cup to West Seattle’s soccer community.
