Monday's World Cup debut in Seattle was a smash hit inside Lumen Field (or "Seattle Stadium"), with 66,775 fans packing the building to watch a historic 1-1 draw between Belgium and Egypt.
Outside the gates, though, Seattle managed to steal some attention for all the wrong reasons.
The Seattle Police Department appeared to set up designated "protest zones" around the venue, essentially trying to box demonstrators into tiny fenced-off areas that looked more like dog parks than spaces for public expression.
General view of Seattle Stadium during Belgium and Egypt's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match in Seattle. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ((Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))
Located along Occidental Avenue and South King Street, the zones consisted of plastic cones and orange construction netting. They were shockingly small, barely big enough to fit a handful of people standing shoulder to shoulder.
And the best part? Almost nobody used them.
Demonstrators largely ignored the designated areas and moved freely throughout the surrounding streets, making the entire setup look completely pointless from the start.
Fans quickly turned the empty enclosures into a punchline.
Some Belgium supporters stopped to pose for photos next to the fenced-off sections like they were Seattle landmarks.
Others posted videos online questioning what exactly the city thought was going to happen inside spaces the size of a suburban backyard trampoline.
Social media wasted no time piling on. One X user perfectly summed up the reaction:
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"'Protest zones' as if free speech is only designated to certain areas."
Not exactly the message Seattle was hoping to send as the city prepares for more World Cup-related events and the arrival of international visitors.
Belgium supporters pack Seattle Stadium stands ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 clash with Egypt. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ((Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))
Egypt star Mohamed Salah disputes a referee's decision during World Cup match against Belgium. (Photo by Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ((Photo by Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))
For months, local officials have been working overtime to polish Seattle's image ahead of FIFA's global spotlight.
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That has included efforts to clear homeless encampments near major event corridors and showcase the city as a world-class destination capable of hosting one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.
Instead, one of the biggest talking points from outside the stadium became a handful of tiny orange-netted boxes that looked ridiculous and accomplished next to nothing.
Their existence left plenty of fans asking the same question: If people are free to protest, why create a designated corner that looks like a penalty box for speech?
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Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
