The Lucas family from Ankeny is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Seattle to watch Team USA play Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 19.

Michelle Lucas has been planning the trip for months.

"For me, it's definitely a trip of a lifetime," Michelle said. "I don't think the rest of my life, I probably will have a chance to see USA in USA play for the World Cup."

Soccer is a family tradition for the Lucas', with every member either having played or still playing the sport.

"I love the intensity. I love the physical-ness of it," Michelle said.

When the family learned the World Cup was coming to the U.S., they knew they had to find a way to get into a game. The journey to securing tickets was challenging.

"There was a sign-up for a drawing to see if you get selected to get tickets before they got out for sale," Michelle said. "We had talked as a family and we're like, let's everybody just put your email out there and see what happens," she said.

When Michelle received the email confirming their selection, she recalled, "I went in, checked my email. I was like, I just got selected. And they're like, 'Are you kidding me?' I was like, 'Nope, nope, mom's in.'"

The family was able to secure four tickets but needed five. When public ticket sales opened, they faced high resale prices. Michelle described the moment she found one last ticket in their section, saying, "I'm like, do I pull the trigger? Do I pull the trigger?"

Though the final ticket cost three times the price of the earlier ones, Michelle said the experience will be worth it. "I don't think you could put a dollar amount on being in that stadium at that game, at that time," she said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams competing in 104 matches across 16 cities. An estimated 6.5 million fans are expected to attend.

For the Lucas family, this trip is more than just a game — it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.