Ballard’s Kangaroo & Kiwi soaks in excitement of U.S. and Australia World Cup match

SEATTLE — For one sports bar in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, the United States vs. Australia FIFA World Cup match on Friday at Lumen Field provides an exciting opportunity for businesses and community.

One week into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Bradley Howe, the owner of Kangaroo & Kiwi — an Australian and New Zealand-centric sports pub — said they’ll be opening up early at 8 a.m. ahead of the noon kickoff for the big game.

It will be an exclamation point for what he said has been a successful stretch of business through the tournament’s first week.

“As a bar owner, you couldn’t ask for more, because it’s been amazing,” Howe said. “Crowds have been amazing, great crowds from all different countries, it’s been really great.”

Howe founded the pub 25 years ago as of April, after moving to Seattle several years prior. It brought his Aussie spirit and love of sports together in Ballard, creating what he said is one of the only dedicated bars like it for his heritage along the West Coast.

It’s why he’s had the Aussies’ match with the U.S. circled on his calendar, ever since the official matchups were announced for Seattle several months ago.

“It seems like it’s really the only game in this World Cup that matters,” Howe said jokingly. “This will be the biggest event in Seattle sports history. I’m confident of calling that. We’ve had Super Bowls. We’ve had great Mariners runs. I’ve been in for a lot of that stuff,” he said.

That may not be hyperbole either. Seattle’s opening match between Belgium and Egypt at Lumen Field — now named Seattle Stadium for the tournament — was completely packed with roaring fans from both countries.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Australian fans in Seattle told KOMO News that they’re expecting about 10,000 of them to be at the game, cheering on their country.

Ticket prices for the match indicate that the hype is real, and space is limited.

Pair that with the fact that both the U.S. and Australia won their opening matches, and it has amplified the atmosphere of Friday’s match, which puts first place for Group D on the line.

“It’s got the casual fan excited, it’s got the fans that were on the fence a little bit (excited). Now we’re all in,” said Howe.

Many Aussies are trickling into Seattle from Vancouver, where Australia beat Turkey 2-0.

One of those Aussies includes Nathan McBride, who found his way to Kangaroo & Kiwi on Wednesday afternoon while looking for a bite to eat and some drinks to watch the England vs. Croatia match after arriving by train from Vancouver.

He happened to be staying not too far away and was pleasantly surprised to find an Australian bar.

“You come up in here, everyone’s been extremely friendly, and the weather’s been unbelievable,” McBridge said, comparing the World Cup atmosphere of both Vancouver and Seattle to when Sydney hosted the Olympic Games in 2000.

He said he was able to secure tickets for Australia’s match against Turkey, the USA in Seattle, and Paraguay in San Francisco on June 25 — and turned the games into a long trip.

“We’ll all have a bit of fun, it sounds like it will be a fun rivalry, hopefully very respectful and no trouble,” McBridge said, having already chatted with some USA fans who will also be at the game.

Whether it’s serving as a home away from home for his fellow Aussies who made the long trek to the United States, or the frenzied soccer fans in Seattle wanting to soak in the World Cup, Howe said he’s prepared for Friday’s match, at least as much as he can be.

“All I know is I have plenty of beer, plenty of drinks, plenty of staff, maybe enough seats — I’m not sure — plenty of TVs, and just be ready,” he said.

For the long-time business owner in Ballard, he said this is exactly the kind of opportunity that you wait for, especially when 14 hours by plane from home.

“It’s unreal, this is what you build a pub for, really,” Howe said. “I’m meeting people all over from Australia. I’m from a really small town in New South Wales, and there are people who are kind of from there that know the town, and they’re all visiting Seattle.”

It’s also why Howe said he is really happy with how the city of Seattle prepared for the tournament, and has put its best on display with the Waterfront and Pioneer Square fan zones.

“I think the city of Seattle has done an amazing job, and the people and the staff. The city is on display, and they’re doing a great job, and I’m very proud,” he said.