By Joe Nguyen, CEO of Seattle Metro Chamber, and Jacqueline Miller, CEO of World Affairs Council of Seattle
PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL
This summer, the world got a closer look at what Seattle has long known: this is a special place. For nearly a month, Seattle welcomed the world, and we delivered.
More than 750,000 fans came to our region. They filled Lumen Field, explored our neighborhoods, rode our transit, supported local businesses, and experienced a city that is innovative, welcoming, creative, and ready to connect with the world.
The World Cup gave Seattle a global stage. What we showed on that stage was the best of who we already are.
Visitors discovered a region defined by natural beauty, groundbreaking companies, diverse communities, and a spirit of collaboration. They saw a city where public agencies, businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and residents came together to create an unforgettable experience.
Seattle has always been a place where people from around the world come to build, innovate, exchange ideas, and create opportunities. The World Cup simply gave millions more people a chance to see it.
That is worth celebrating. And it is worth building on.
Global events like the World Cup go even beyond the importance of tourism. They create opportunities that remain long after the final match; strengthening relationships and diplomatic ties, attracting investment, and deepening cultural understanding.
We saw that happen before Team USA’s match against Australia, when Australia’s ambassador, senior U.S. State Department officials, business leaders, and civic partners gathered in Seattle to discuss the future of economic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. That conversation, hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and U.S. Department of State, happened because Seattle became a place where the world came together.
Now we have an opportunity to continue that momentum.
For Washington, the Indo-Pacific is not a distant market, it is our economic neighborhood. The numbers tell the story. Washington exports roughly $83 billion in goods and services each year, with China, South Korea, and Japan among our largest trading partners. More than 930,000 Washington jobs are supported by trade. From Microsoft and Amazon to Boeing, Starbucks, and thousands of small and midsize businesses, our state’s prosperity is connected to our ability to compete and succeed in markets around the world.
These markets didn’t open on their own. South Korea, for example, was once the largest recipient of U.S. international assistance following the Korean War. That investment helped turn a struggling economy into a trading partner worth billions to our state today. It’s a pattern that repeats across the Indo-Pacific: international assistance lays the groundwork, and trade follows.
Seattle’s success depends on relationships, trusted partnerships, reliable institutions, and connections that create confidence for businesses, investors, and communities. It depends on the strategic investments in international assistance and diplomacy, including cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy, that create long-term partners.
The World Cup accelerated those connections by bringing leaders and communities together in ways that few other events can.
That is why this moment matters.
The opportunity now is for business, civic, and government leaders to work together to turn the relationships created this summer into lasting opportunity. Let’s welcome more international delegations. Let’s pursue more global events that showcase our region. Let’s expand educational and cultural exchanges. And let’s continue strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific that support jobs, investment, and innovation throughout Washington.
Seattle showed the world what we already know.
We are a global city powered by innovation, strengthened by collaboration, and enriched by diverse perspectives. We succeed because we engage with the world, welcoming new ideas, talent, and opportunities that make our communities stronger and help our region thrive.
The final whistle wasn’t the end of the match. It was a reminder of what is possible when Seattle comes together.
The world came to Seattle, and Seattle welcomed it with confidence and pride.
Now let’s keep showing up.
By investing in partnerships, exchanges, and relationships, we can continue creating opportunities that strengthen our economy, enrich our communities, and reinforce Seattle’s place as one of the world’s great global cities.
Let’s make sure the world continues to see what Seattle can do.
Opinion: Seattle’s biggest World Cup win — showing the world who we are