FIFA World Cup™ Partner Toolkit

⚽This page is a resource for sharing all things related to FIFA World Cup 2026™ with the our amazing communities, partners, and businesses throughout Snohomish County. It will be updated as more information is announced, so please check back regularly.⚽

Our Pitch

We want to position Snohomish County as the place to stay, play, and explore when the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ hits the Pacific Northwest. We may not be a host city, but soccer fans from around the world are invited to come early and stay late as they plan a pitch-perfect escape to Snohomish County, where the best moments happen just outside the big city buzz.

⚽ Go with the Flow – We are accessible and easy to navigate. Reach us by car, train, ferry, or light rail. Visitors can
also fly into Paine Field International Airport (PAE) in Everett or Sea-Tac International Airport (SEA) in Seattle.

⚽ Take a Breath – After experiencing the craziness of the beautiful game in Seattle or Vancouver, B.C., retreat to
Snohomish County and have room to breathe and reset.

⚽ Earn the Toast – Explore 2,000 square miles of Snohomish County — from the Salish Sea to the Cascade Mountains
and everything in between. You’ll find that the best plays aren’t made on turf, they’re made on trails, kayaks, and
brewery patios. Cheers to that.

⚽ Feel the Roar – Join the crowds at the Everett fan zone or discover a variety of activities and activations in
communities throughout the county. All the excitement is here.

⚽ Beautiful Game, Beautiful Cities – Soccer is the beautiful game. Snohomish County is full of beautiful cities
and communities. Discover Snohomish County!

Our Goal

In Snohomish County, we are all on the same team. When our communities, partners, and businesses work together, we all win.
To keep our county moving forward, we created a brand-safe marketing toolkit that includes messaging, creative assets, and more.
The marketing toolkit offers simple ways to join in the excitement and connect to this once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Whether you’re a retail shop, restaurant, bar, hotel, events center, or anything in between, you can help build the
narrative that shows why Snohomish County is a premier tourism destination. Our toolkit includes:

⚽ Partner toolkit guidelines and messaging – Messaging templates you can use for email, social media, and on-site signage.
There's also a list of words and phrases you can use to ensure your content is aligned, exciting, and within legal and brand guidelines.
There’s also a list of words and phrases you can’t use (ex: “FIFA”, “World Cup,” and “FIFA World Cup”).

⚽ Discover Snohomish County brand and style guide – Use this document to create consistent branding and style for your content.

⚽ Soccer stock photo library – More than 100 royalty-free photos to download and use for social media, emails, and posters or signage.

⚽ "Follow the Thread to Snohomish County" promotional video – Download a 30-second campaign video in a variety of aspect ratios
for viewing on television, laptops, or tablets. These videos can also be used for social media (posts, reels, and stories) and emails.

⚽ Partner toolkit guide – A shareable document that details all the info and assets included in the partner toolkit.

⚽ #SnoCoGameday – This is the official hashtag of Snohomish County for the 2026 events. Use it on social media, emails,
and on-site signage to help build a countywide connected experience for visitors.

Additional resources

⚽ Snohomish County Tourism FIFA World Cup™ marketing plan – A look at the various phases of our marketing plan, including our campaign and marketing strategy, owned media communications, art activations, and more.

For more information on the partner toolkit or marketing plan, contact Nick Shekeryk at Nick.Shekeryk@snoco.org or Richard Porter at Richard.Porter@snoco.org.

Grant Programs & Opportunities

EASC & Commerce Grant Funding – Apply Here

The Activate Snohomish Community Grant Program is a competitive funding initiative developed by the Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC). The program is funded by the Seattle Foundation with support from the Washington State Department of Commerce. A total of $85,000 will be awarded to prepare local businesses, nonprofits, and communities for the opportunities created by FIFA World Cup 26 Seattle™.

Funds will be distributed across two tracks. Community Activation Grants ($2,500–$10,000) will support local chambers, nonprofits, and cities in hosting public watch parties, developing tourism-focused marketing, and adding temporary enhancements such as signage, art installations, or wayfinding. Small Business Grants ($1,000–$5,000) will help hospitality, dining, retail, and tourism businesses make physical improvements, fund marketing campaigns, or cover costs for match-related events.

This program gives Snohomish County an opportunity to strengthen its readiness and visibility along the I-5 corridor while ensuring that local businesses and communities throughout the county benefit from increased visitor traffic and global attention. County partners can add value by aligning new projects with existing initiatives. For example, tying community activations to the Snohomish County Arts Commission’s buoy installations would leverage these county assets to draw more visitors, encourage engagement, and enhance cultural visibility, maximizing the overall impact of World Cup activities. Visit the EASC website for more information on this grant program. You can also fill out the grant application here.

2026 Hotel-Motel Small Fund Grant: Round Two Now Open – Apply Here​

Snohomish County is accepting Round Two applications for the 2026 Hotel-Motel Small Fund Grant, supporting public and nonprofit tourism projects that attract visitors during the 2026 World Cup and other major events.​

Key details:​

⚽ Funding available: ~$300,000 total; typical awards $5,000–$50,000 (reimbursement only)​

⚽ Deadline: Applications due December 15, 2025​

⚽ Project completion: By December 15, 2026​

⚽ Funds disbursed: February–March 2026​

⚽ Note: All applicants must be either a public or non-profit entity with demonstrated ability to accomplish proposed projects.

Priority projects:​

⚽ World Cup or America250 activations​

⚽ Countywide collaborations and community celebrations​

⚽ Watch parties or fan events driving overnight stays​

⚽ Tourism itineraries, recreation, or access improvements​

⚽ Projects showing strong ROI or leveraging other funds​

📅 Apply by December 15, 2025. Send applications to Tourism@snoco.org

For more information on the partner grant programs and upcoming opportunities, contact Harry Birak at Harry.Birak@snoco.org.​