Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends.
In less than two months, Seattle will begin hosting matches for the 2026 World Cup.
And, like in the 10 other U.S. host cities, there is a lot of excitement here about this mega international sporting event coming to town.
... But there's likely some trepidation, too, as people think ahead to the congested streets, possible transit hangups and big crowds.
Seattleites could be tempted to ask, how did we get roped into this and will it be worth it?
We called up a sports economist for answers.
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Guest:
- Victor Matheson, a professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts
Related links:
- "The Economics of the World Cup" by Victor Matheson
- The World Cup is around the corner. Are cities and states prepared? • Stateline
- Why Host The Olympics When History Shows It's Likely A Money Pit? : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR
- KUOW - Will this summer's World Cup be an economic win for Seattle?
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Maleeha Syed
Producer, Soundside
Maleeha is a producer on Soundside, a show that helps listeners get to know the PNW and each other. Before KUOW, she worked at Cascade PBS, first as a communities reporter and then as a podcast producer on shows like Northwest Reports and Your Last Meal. Before moving to Seattle, she worked as a reporter at the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, but is originally from San Antonio.
More stories from Maleeha Syed »
