World Cup, Seattle-style: The U.S. men’s team hosts Australia Friday at noon at Lumen Field, with Christian Pulisic still listed as doubtful after a calf injury, while Cristian Roldan—Seattle Sounders’ homegrown midfielder—says the city’s deep soccer culture will help power the match. Local watch parties: If you can’t get tickets, Yakima’s Sozo Sports Complex is running free fan-zone screenings (Mexico–South Korea tonight; USA–Australia Friday at noon), with family activities and food trucks. Sports + community economy: Everett’s waterfront watch parties are already drawing crowds and boosting nearby businesses as the tournament rolls on. Politics meets sports: A ballot fight is heating up over a Washington measure that would bar transgender students from girls’ sports, with opponents warning about privacy and safety impacts. Legal/civic news: Washington’s Supreme Court upheld a $35M campaign finance fine against Meta for election-ad transparency violations. Local accountability: The Blaine School District received a mostly clean audit, with one noncompliance tied to Special Education time-and-effort documentation. Labor during the tournament: Hilton union workers in Seattle went on strike at the Embassy Suites Downtown Pioneer Square amid FIFA-week contract talks.