The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is set to open its newest exhibition, “The Beautiful Game: How Soccer Connects Us All,” on May 23, 2026, with the showcase running through September 7. Curated by longtime Seattle soccer enthusiast Libbie Barnes, the exhibit marks a personal milestone for Barnes, who has been kicking a ball since she could walk and now channels that lifelong passion into a public celebration of the sport’s universal reach.
Visitors will encounter a striking, walk‑through audio dome shaped like a giant soccer ball, where layered chants from fans around the world create an immersive soundscape. The display is complemented by a curated selection of photographs from Magnum Photos, capturing moments that span continents and cultures, alongside locally sourced images that spotlight Seattle’s own soccer milestones.
A Century of Soccer in the Pacific Northwest
The region’s love affair with soccer stretches back more than a hundred years, beginning with immigrant‑led amateur clubs that organized informal matches in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, industrial leagues had formed, and youth programs introduced the game to Seattle schools as early as 1910. The professional era arrived in 1974 when the Seattle Sounders entered the North American Soccer League, laying a foundation that would later support the city’s Major League Soccer franchise.
Among the exhibit’s most poignant sections is a tribute to the city’s contributions to disabled sport. Don Bennett, a Seattle resident, founded the first amputee soccer team in the area, while the city also pioneered blind soccer using a specially designed “bell ball” that rattles to guide visually impaired players. Barnes notes that these roots have positioned Seattle as a global hub for adaptive athletics, a legacy that continues to inspire athletes worldwide.
The timing of the exhibition coincides with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, offering a local lens on a global tournament that will be hosted across three nations. By weaving together archival photos, personal narratives, and interactive audio, the exhibit invites guests to experience how a simple game can forge connections across borders, generations, and abilities.