John Curley Says Seattle's 2026 World Cup Cleanup Will Fade After 1 Match
Updated
Updated · MyNorthwest · Jul 5
John Curley Says Seattle's 2026 World Cup Cleanup Will Fade After 1 Match
1 articles · Updated · MyNorthwest · Jul 5
Summary
John Curley said Seattle’s cleaner, safer World Cup presentation will disappear after the city’s final remaining match, calling the effort a temporary show for visitors rather than residents.
On KIRO Newsradio, he argued officials created parking, cleaner streets and looser public drinking rules for out-of-town fans, but would let homelessness and other pre-tournament conditions return once crowds leave.
Curley still praised the event’s upside, saying hundreds of thousands of international visitors saw Seattle at its best and residents set politics aside during the celebration.
His criticism centers on whether World Cup-era public order measures can outlast the tournament instead of ending with the last game.