Turning World Cup excitement into lasting community impact

Angelique OkekeExecutive Vice President and General Counsel, and Interim Chief People Officer | F5

Can you feel the buzz? I sure do. Starting today, six of the 104 2026 FIFA World Cup matches will be held right here in Seattle, and I know soccer fans from around the world are ready for some unforgettable games. But what does it mean for the local community—our friends and neighbors—to host such a big event?

That was the first question I asked Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26, the local organizing committee that’s helping bring this event to our city. He didn’t hesitate. “Our mission is to deliver the maximum benefit to the Seattle community for hosting the World Cup,” he said.

That kind of community commitment is a value we share here at F5, which was founded in Seattle 30 years ago. And it’s why we are investing in partnerships designed to create meaningful, community impact that will outlast Seattle’s World Cup matches. Working alongside SeattleFWC26 and the nonprofit Black Players for Change, we're helping to expand access to World Cup experiences for local youth, support Black-owned businesses, and celebrate the rich culture that defines our region.

Sending 25 high school students to the World Cup

Among the events we’re sponsoring, I’m personally most excited about what we’ve got planned for Juneteenth, a day that invites us to reflect on freedom, progress, and the work still required to create equitable opportunities for everyone. On that day, we’re sending 25 high school students from various Seattle communities to a match. First, they’ll visit our headquarters for breakfast, hosted by F5 Appreciates Blackness, the employee inclusion group I sponsor. We want to get to know these students and speak with them about our experience of working at a tech company.

After the students have had a chance to meet with me, our CEO François Locoh-Donou, and a few other F5ers, they’ll head off to the stadium to see the U.S. team face off against Australia.

There’s no better way to create lasting memories than by bringing young people to the world’s biggest stage. Allen Hopkins Jr., executive director of Black Players for Change, likens this full-day experience to “the Willy Wonka golden ticket.” He knows that opportunities like this can be life-changing—because that’s exactly what happened to him. In college, he had a chance to see a series of World Cup matches, and he was hooked. “I was so inspired by seeing something big, and being a part of something great,” he said. “I want to re-create that feeling for these kids.”

Bringing World Cup traffic to local, Black-owned businesses

Our World Cup partnerships extend beyond youth programming. Major sporting events create economic opportunity; in the Seattle region, World Cup events are expected to generate around $848 million in economic impact. We don’t want small, local businesses to miss out. After all, local businesses are part of what gives Seattle its character and vitality. We ourselves started as a small business back in 1996.

That's why we're helping to showcase Black-owned businesses through the Unity Loop initiative that guides visitors around town so they can experience more of what makes Seattle great, including its rich and diverse culture. We’re supporting 27 Black-owned businesses by sponsoring their participation on that World Cup platform. If you've seen the lit-up whale tail beacons in local storefronts, those are a few of the businesses being highlighted.

One of them is Arte Noir, a gallery and retail space supporting Black artists in Seattle’s Central District. “We want visitors and residents to experience Seattle beyond the stadiums and tourist corridors, and to engage with the communities, histories, creativity, and culture that make this city unique,” said Jazmyn Scott, executive director of Arte Noir. “Our hope is that this moment creates meaningful visibility and economic impact for Black artists, businesses, and cultural organizations locally.”

Boosting economic activity even after the World Cup ends

We’re not stopping there. We will continue our community-focused partnerships with SeattleFWC26 and Black Players for Change, with some exciting initiatives in the year to come. The goal is to continue to boost economic activity and more equitable access to the sport even after the World Cup matches are over.

The spirit of soccer, Tomozawa said, “is about unity. The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world. It brings the world together.”

Long after the final match here is played, we hope Seattle will be able to point to lasting benefits reflecting that spirit of community uplift. Young people who gained access to new opportunities, local businesses that found new customers, and communities that felt more connected to one another because of what we all chose to build together.

That's the kind of legacy worth investing in.

To learn more about how F5 gives back, visit our Global Good webpage.

About the Author

Angelique OkekeExecutive Vice President and General Counsel, and Interim Chief People Officer | F5

As Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Interim Chief People Officer at F5, Angelique M. Okeke leads the company’s global legal strategy and operations. With over 20 years of experience as a business executive and legal advisor, she brings deep expertise in business transformation, crisis management, and digital strategy. Prior to her current role, Angelique served as Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at F5, leading the commercial legal business. Before joining F5, she was Global Vice President & General Counsel at Nike, Inc., where she played a pivotal role in expanding nike.com into more than 30 countries and launching the SNKRS app, driving significant digital revenue growth. Angelique is a dedicated mentor and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She serves on the board of Girls, Inc. of the Pacific Northwest and is an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Boston College, a Master of Arts in Public Communication from American University, and a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.

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