Seattle made history over the weekend as the host of the Pacific Northwest’s first international blind soccer tournament, with Kazakhstan claiming the title after three matches at Interbay Stadium and the US Association of Blind Athletes officially naming Seattle the regional hub for blind soccer in the United States.
The Blind Soccer International Tournament, held on 23 and 24 May, was organised by the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organising Committee in partnership with the US Association of Blind Athletes, Ballard FC, and Salmon Bay FC. The results carried real competitive weight, with match outcomes counting toward the Paralympic qualification process for Peru and Kazakhstan. The US team has already qualified for the LA28 Paralympic Games as the host nation.
Kazakhstan went unbeaten across the weekend, defeating Peru 1-0 on Sunday to clinch the tournament title. The full results were USA 0, Peru 4 on Saturday; USA 0, Kazakhstan 0 on Saturday; and Kazakhstan 1, Peru 0 on Sunday.
SeattleFWC26 CEO Peter Tomozawa said the weekend was a direct expression of the legacy the city’s World Cup hosting is intended to build. “By combining our accessibility focus with a commitment to grow blind soccer, we are helping the US National Blind Soccer team build toward the LA28 Paralympic Games while establishing lasting infrastructure for the sport in our region,” Tomozawa said. “This is what innovative investment in sport looks like, and this is what Seattle’s FIFA World Cup legacy looks like: more athletes, more coaches, more opportunity, and more for the community.”
Michael Holmes, Interim CEO of USABA, said the tournament represented a significant moment for the sport’s visibility in the region. “This international tournament featuring our own USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team represented a powerful opportunity to elevate awareness, showcase the speed, skill and intensity of the sport, and connect new communities to adaptive athletics,” Holmes said.
Sam Zisette, Co-Founder and President of Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, said hosting the event at Interbay Stadium aligned directly with both clubs’ vision for what the game can be. “We’re excited to help showcase these incredible athletes to our fanbase and beyond, and to continue growing the sport in our community,” Zisette said.
The designation of Seattle as the official Pacific Northwest Hub for US blind soccer is intended to create lasting infrastructure for the sport in the region well beyond the World Cup itself, building pathways for athletes, coaches, and communities across Washington state.
