Pictured above: Seattle International Soccer Local Organizing Committee CEO Peter Tomozawa and Sen. Marcus Riccelli discussing planning for FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 in Washington state.
Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, released the statement below Monday announcing that Spokane has been chosen as base camp for Egypt’s soccer team during the 2026 World Cup:
“I was proud to help lead community efforts to land Spokane as a base camp for the 2026 World Cup and look forward to sharing our beautiful community with Egypt’s national team.
“This is a journey that began way back in November 2024, when I hosted a community roundtable of community leaders at Gonzaga University with Peter Tomozawa, the CEO of the local organizing committee for the World Cup, who helped us dream big. We were focused on the possibility that Spokane could play a part in this event in a special way, and hosting a team will be historic!
“Local leaders, businesses and soccer enthusiasts believed in the vision, and I am proud of the part I played to help secure funding for improvements to Gonzaga University’s soccer facilities in the state’s capital budget. That investment helped this dream become reality and will ensure soccer will be supported in the community for years to come.
“As a coach, player, referee, and fan, I am ecstatic our community will have the rare opportunity to watch some of the world’s best soccer players prepare for the World Cup. We have solidified our place as the soccer heartbeat of the Inland Northwest, and I am excited for fans across the country and world to see what we have to offer.”
