by Steve Soliz, KOMO News Anchor, Wed, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 AM
Updated Wed, June 24, 2026, at 6:26 PM
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An image of former sailor Nick Curry and his wife. (KOMO News)
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SEATTLE — As soccer fans flood the region for World Cup matches, one organization is working to ensure military members and veterans can experience the action in person.
Vet Tix serves veterans, service members, and first responders.
“We have one mission, and that’s to give something to those who gave,” explained Steven Weintraub, a veteran and Vet Tix’s chief strategy officer. “We do that by distributing free event tickets to veterans, service members, and first responders as a way to thank them for their service and sacrifice.”
According to the organization’s website, it also provides tickets as a way to “reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build lifelong memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life.”
An image of former sailor Nick Curry and his wife. (KOMO News)
Vet Tix works with every professional sports team in the Seattle area to obtain tickets for various events. During the FIFA World Cup, however, it is working with Bank of America to distribute thousands of free tickets.
We’ve been serving military veterans and first responders for more than a century,” said Jim Morehead, Bank of America’s market president. “To have the opportunity to partner with FIFA and Vet Tix and provide thousands of free World Cup tickets is a great opportunity.”
As thousands of fans filled Lumen Field last week to watch the United States defeat Australia, former sailor Nick Curry was among those in attendance after receiving tickets through Vet Tix.
“I’ve been with Vet Tix and getting tickets from them since the beginning,” Curry said. “One of the best benefits of serving is having Vet Tix. To think I’d be able to attend a home World Cup match was never something I thought I could afford or have a chance to do.”
Ticket prices for World Cup matches have been notoriously high. Curry said receiving the tickets made his dream of attending a match attainable.
Curry received two tickets so he could attend the match with his wife, and he said the experience went beyond the game itself.
An image of former sailor Nick Curry and his wife. (KOMO News)
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a sporting event,” Curry said. “It was so great to be with my wife and to be around other veterans and first responders.”
During the day, Curry also had an unexpected encounter with Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch.
“My wife is a huge Seahawks fan,” Curry said. “She remembers where she was when the Beast Quake happened. To see him in person on the street was just an awesome experience.”
Curry was one of only a few dozen veterans selected to attend the match through Vet Tix.
“It was so great to see everybody — all walks of life, all different ages, all different branches,” Curry said. “We had a little time to chat before the match started, get to know each other, and share our excitement.”
An image of former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. (KOMO News)
For Curry, the match was about more than cheering for Team USA. He said it brought back something he misses from his time in the Navy.
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“The thing I miss most about being in the military is the camaraderie,” Curry said. “Vet Tix brings all of us together. We get to connect, see other veterans, and have that experience again — to be around our brothers and sisters that we miss so much.”
