KUOW73%
World Cup crowds bring some boom, some bust for Seattle businesses 16%
By Cornelius Hocker43%
6/24/2026, 3:54:32 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 7 faulty reasoning types, including Post Hoc (False Cause), Anchoring Bias, and Hasty Generalization, with Anecdotal as the most egregious example at 18.2% saturation with 208 hits. Analysis detected 494 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,142 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 31.8% and a BS Rank of 16% (18,492 of 21,887 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 84.50% of the article peer group.
After Seattle’s first week of hosting 2026 World Cup matches, KUOW wanted to get a better picture of the financial impact on the neighborhoods closest to the action: Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Bosnia and Herzegovina vs.
Qatar game, a clear pattern emerged: Bars, cafés, and restaurants surged with game-day energy, while many retail shops and businesses outside the immediate fan orbit struggled.
Pioneer Square rides game-day surge
In Pioneer Square, the World Cup has so far delivered a high-volume, high-energy boost for many businesses.
A bar manager, who’s been at Central Saloon for seven years, said the USA vs.
Australia match last Friday was the busiest day she’s ever worked.
Another bar nearby, Collins Pub, hit record sales with employees saying they were so overwhelmed, no one could take a break.
At the basement bar and pizza joint Underbelly, demand was so intense, the kitchen burned through a month’s worth of product in a single day.
Mediterranean restaurant Falafel Fresh ran out of meat on that same day.
RELATED: Pioneer Square businesses score big after first Seattle World Cup match
Staff at Mirabelle by Orphée, a Parisian-style café, said they have been incredibly busy.
The owner, Orphée Fouano, said “people from all around the world” have come into his shop.
“It’s been very nice.
We need to have FIFA every day,” Fouano said.
Across the neighborhood, bars, cafés, and restaurants reported similar spikes:
Cherry Street Coffee House, Café Paloma, and Caffe D’arte were all extremely busy during game days.
Biryani & Curry King described business as “very good.”
Staff wished Seattle hosted more matches.
Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub, along with Damn the Weather, had a full house on game days.
The latter noted a shift toward a more raucous, dive-bar atmosphere.
Domino’s Pizza said demand surged enough that it could have used more staff.
Hotels in Pioneer Square were full, including Best Western and Citizen M.
That has helped sustain foot traffic since the World Cup started.
RELATED: The World Cup is coming to Seattle.
Will it actually pay off for local businesses?
Even non-food businesses have found ways to benefit.
Turabi Rug Gallery sold and shipped more $10,000 worth of rugs to customers who live in California and South Dakota.
Millheads Barbershop saw an increase in walk-ins.
Magic Mouse Toys reported more sales on match days.
However, other specialty shops didn’t fare so well.
At FRIDA, staff said foot traffic increased but didn’t translate into purchases, though they weren’t expecting more sales given what they sell, vintage clothing, and the crowd in town for the World Cup.
Staff at Dollz & Dames said the World Cup impact has been negative.
Business has been incredibly slow with fewer regular customers coming in, which the owner attributed to large crowds pushing locals away.
She said the same thing happened at their shop in New Orleans during the Super Bowl last year.
Other businesses found success only by creating their own draw.
Ndujame Little Italy credited a party with a live DJ, not just the World Cup, for bringing in customers.
Chinatown-International District sees uneven, often negative, impact
A very different story unfolded in the Chinatown-International District, where several business owners said the World Cup coincided with a slowdown rather than a boom.
“Business wise, it hasn’t been good at all for retail,” the owner of 1+ Kitchen and Home said.
“Actually, it got quieter and slower when FIFA started.”
He attributed part of the issue to ongoing public safety concerns, saying many older regulars have avoided the area.
Where the neighborhood once thrived a decade ago, he said, current conditions have dampened the potential benefits of major events.
RELATED: Sun's out and Seattle's Chinatown bustles.
But business owners say they're 'trying to survive'
Many other retailers reported declines:
Alice’s Floral Designs said foot traffic is down and regular customers aren’t coming in because of the World Cup crowds.
International Lobster Rolls said sales dropped 20–25% since the tournament began.
Anh Ơi Bake Shop’s owner said he believes the World Cup has caused his business to “have the worst sales day” it’s ever had, even compared to operating as a pop-up.
He posted a TikTok video about the experience.
Miero Coffee Bar also reported fewer customers.
Depending on the day, they’ve adjusted hours or closed early.
Szechuan Noodle Bowl described business amid the World Cup as “very bad.”
Phở Bắc and Chengdu Memory reported slower or flat business, while others like ChuMinh Tofu, Jade Garden, and A+ Restaurant said there was no meaningful change.
There have been some bright spots, however.
Tea shops, places that sell Boba, sweet treats, and snacks, scored more of the World Cup crowd.
TP Tea, Share Tea, and Le Grey Tea Co. all reported more customers, especially during game days.
Sweet Bakery and Panda Yogurt also saw a noticeable increase in sales.
Some restaurants experienced mixed results depending on timing.
Fortune Garden noted quieter-than-usual dinner service, but heavy traffic after matches.
King Noodle reported a similar pattern: busy during games, slower otherwise.
Diamond Bay Restaurant described business as “fantastic,” with a diverse customer mix that couldn’t be directly tied to the tournament.
Two neighborhoods, two economies
The differing World Cup experiences between Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District businesses highlight how an influx of tourists to Seattle isn’t necessarily great for everyone.
The Chinatown-International District has seen similar impacts during other major events, such as the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in 2023 and the 2025 World Series.
Knowing this, Mayor Katie Wilson told KUOW the city is doing what it can to encourage visitors to venture outside of Pioneer Square to neighborhoods like the Chinatown-International District.
“We have our Unity Loop that Seattle and our local organizing committee has worked on which is trying to get people to move through other neighborhoods,” Wilson said.
“I know that our local organizing committee has been doing a lot of work with small businesses to give them the tools that they need to advertise to the folks that are staying all over Seattle and our region.”
In a recent press release, Andy Pham, Community Engagement Manager with Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area, noted the neighborhood has seen “far fewer of the estimated 750,000 visitors.”
He said businesses are being hit two-fold: The World Cup crowds they prepared for aren’t coming, while normal foot traffic and regulars are “staying away from the area to avoid crowds, traffic, and fears of ICE activity.”
Editor’s note: While this isn’t a complete list of businesses, KUOW spent two days canvassing both neighborhoods.
Many of the businesses not mentioned were not open on Monday or Tuesday.
Others were closed by the time we got to them.
If you’d like to share your experience with World Cup crowds, email cornelius@kuow.org.
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