On June 24, Hoa Mai Park was buzzing with warm weather, loud cheers, and neighbors filling the space for a free World Cup watch party.
In Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID), community members from around the city and visiting tourists gathered to watch a livestream of the Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar game, turning the broadcast into a neighborhood event.
Bringing the match to the CID was part of the neighborhood Small Business Relief Team’s (SBRT) effort to support local businesses during the World Cup. Seattle is one of 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup 26 from June 11 through July 19. Six games will be hosted in the city.
The SBRT is a collaboration between the CID Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA), Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda), and Friends of Little Sài Gòn (FLS). They have been working with community partners, such as the Seattle FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26) to ensure the occasion benefits residents and businesses as much as it celebrates the game.
The watch party on the 24th was the first of three live match screenings planned by the SBRT during the World Cup, each at a different location in the neighborhood, and with cultural programming and performances.
This event was emceed by local drag artist Viper Fengz, and included a raffle giveaway with prizes from local small businesses, halftime drag performances by Azn Glo, and tabling by SBRT, FLS, the Seattle Police Department, and Goodwill.
An Huynh, Director of Community Development at SCIDpda, said their group began preparations for the FIFA World Cup last year. “Our primary role has been to take that information from the city and local organizing committee, and share it with our small business owners so that they are aware of what’s going on, and help prepare how they see fit”, said Huynh. She explained that they were intentional about where to hold the watch parties, with the next two taking place at Hing Hay Park, then Theatre Off Jackson. SBRT had also planned for the watch parties to be for matches that were actually played at Lumen Field in Seattle.
“I think the CID has a really complicated relationship with the stadiums. It’s both an economic driver for a lot of businesses, but… the patronage is not spread evenly,” said Huynh. “So I think that was what we were trying to do with these watch parties and activations throughout the summer, to encourage a more sustainable kind of patronage of the neighborhood throughout the year. It has been a little bit slower here, but, you know, we’re halfway through the games.”
Garrett Chan, a local teacher, was in attendance to watch the game. “I’m glad events like this exist,” he said, adding that while there’s been talk about World Cup business downtown, the CID and Little Saigon still feel “a bit on the outside.”. He hopes more people, especially locals, will come to spend time in the area as the tournament continues.
Alana Diggs, a Seattle resident, said that soccer was a big part of her family’s life and watching soccer alone wasn’t as fun. “It made me miss my family a lot. So, watching it with people makes me a lot happier, and I wanted to watch it in a place where I felt like there was community.”
Midway through the match, a halftime show included performances by Azn Glo and the first round of raffle giveaways. “The drag show performances were great. It was really fun to see, and it was fun to win the raffle,” Ranjan Pradeep, one of the raffle winners. He is “excited to go to Maneki and try new places in the CID,” saying, “I really should say ‘go some team’, but I’m here for the vibes.”
Beyond the soccer and drag show festivities, several vendor tables were set up at the park. At the Friends of Little Saigon table, printed resources were offered, including flyers for the two upcoming CID watch parties, a CID Neighborhood Guide by CIDBIA, CID Resource Guide from the City of Seattle, and the ‘Kick It In the CID’ Official Stamp Book.
Carmen Pan, CID Sports Economy Coordinator, framed the watch party as a way for residents and CID fans to participate together, even those who aren’t soccer fans.
“Most of us aren’t at the match,” said Pan, calling the watch party a chance to “show up in the neighborhood”.
The event, she added, includes “something for everyone, you know, even if you’re not a big fan of soccer. Maybe you just enjoy being outside with others and enjoying lunch together.”
