From parents lining the pitch on the weekend to fans giving it their full “90” while cheering on the Sounders and the Reign, there’s no doubt Seattle has long embraced the beautiful game of soccer.

As Seattle prepares to host six matches for the FIFA World Cup this June, it’s fair to say the soccer energy in this city is reaching a bit of a fever pitch.

Pioneer Square will transform into a massive pedestrian hub during the matches at Lumen Field (officially dubbed “Seattle Stadium” during the tournament). There will be viewing parties in neighborhoods across the city, not to mention matches that fall on already festive celebrations happening around the city, like Pride weekend. But for those seeking a deeper look at the culture behind the sport, a unique experience awaits in South Lake Union.

The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) presents “The Beautiful Game: How Soccer Connects Us All.” And just like the name suggests, the exhibit goes beyond the sport and focuses on soccer as a universal language that brings together people around the world, wherever it’s played.

The centerpiece of the exhibit was built by the MOHAI team using the global archives of Magnum Photos. For the uninitiated, Magnum is the legendary photo co-op started nearly 80 years ago by giants like Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. They were known for capturing life as it happened, and it’s safe to say that the same “no-filter” style will come through in these photos, capturing the beautiful game of futbol from around the world.

The FIFA World Cup may be bringing the world stage to Seattle, but MOHAI is also turning the soccer spotlight on our region, showing how global patterns of the game are reflected locally. In addition to the Magnum photos, Libbie Barnes, Associate Curator of Exhibits and Engagement, has curated a looping slideshow of 31 images from the museum’s own collection to show our region’s specific version of the sport. These photos highlight who plays soccer, the influence of climate and landscape, and the city’s immigrant roots and the diversity of the people who play here.

“What resonated most with me is how deeply human the need to belong is,” Barnes said. “Through soccer, anyone can belong, whether you are a player or a supporter. It gives people a place to come together and connect over something they love, even if they don’t speak the same language or grew up on different sides of the world.”

But there’s more to look at and experience than just the photos. The exhibit also includes a large object mural made of 22 soccer balls on loan from local teams and nonprofits, like Seatown FC and Seattle Samurai. The mural gives a great visual perspective of the scale of the soccer community here. You can also see specialized soccer equipment like a bell ball used by NW Association of Blind Athletes and a power soccer ball from Seattle Adaptive Sports.

The list of local soccer clubs and organizations is extensive and celebrates the fact that everyone plays here. You’ll find groups like Cultures United FC, the Somali Health Board Soccer Club, Emerald City Soccer Club, and the ECS Pub League, just to name a few.

“[These stories] create a sense of global community, no matter where they are or what they’re going through,” Barnes added. “To me, that is what makes it ‘The Beautiful Game.’”

If you’re wanting to get the feel of match day energy, there is a multimedia component that puts you in the middle of the action. In the center of the room sits an immersive dome, shaped like a soccer ball. Inside, you can hear the roar of eight different fan chants from around the world. The audio includes the familiar chants you would hear at a Sounders or Reign match, but also the rhythms of fans from several nations that will be playing right here in Seattle during the World Cup, including Egypt, Iran, and Belgium.

Of course, no exhibit would be complete these days without an opportunity to get that perfect photo. MOHAI has you covered, where you can pose in front of a soccer goal set against a Seattle Sounders photo mural. Pro tip: Instead of saying “cheese,” to the camera, try giving it your best with “GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!”

Just in time for the FIFA World Cup, “The Beautiful Game: How Soccer Connects Us All” opens at MOHAI May 23 and runs through September 7.

Jenise Silva is a freelance contributor for Seattle Refined. Follow more of her adventures here.

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