Hundreds of drones will light up the night sky above Seattle after each of the city's six World Cup matches, displaying final scores and national flags.

A rendering of the drone scoreboard planned for Seattle during the 2026 FIFA World Cup [Seattle Tourism]
A rendering of the drone scoreboard planned for Seattle during the 2026 FIFA World Cup [Seattle Tourism]

Seattle Tourism is set to unveil what it calls the world's first drone scoreboard as the city hosts matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After each game played in Seattle, hundreds of drones will take to the night sky to form the final score and the flags of the competing nations.

The display will run on the night of each of Seattle's six scheduled matches, combining real-time results with a nighttime tourism attraction. Fans will be able to check the outcome of each game through the aerial drone formation set against the backdrop of the Space Needle.

Seattle's six matches are Belgium vs. Egypt (June 15), the United States vs. Australia (June 19), Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (June 24), Egypt vs. Iran (June 26), a round-of-32 match (July 1) and a round-of-16 match (July 6). The drone scoreboard is scheduled to run between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. local time, subject to change depending on weather and on-site conditions.

Seattle Tourism conceived the project to reflect the city's identity as a technology-driven hub. It draws on Seattle's aerospace and advanced technology industries as a marketing initiative aimed at broadening the fan experience.

Seattle Tourism said that among all World Cup host cities, Seattle stands out for the proximity of its downtown hotels, fan zones and stadium, allowing visitors to walk between major events and attractions. The agency added that the city's blend of urban and natural environments, combined with some of the strongest soccer enthusiasm in the United States, would make for a uniquely memorable World Cup experience.


terry@heraldcorp.com