Seattle Space Needle gets soccer ball roof for World Cup

The Space Needle unveiled a new paint job Friday, turning the roof of its iconic saucer into a giant soccer ball.

• The makeover comes a week before Seattle hosts its first of six FIFA World Cup matches.

The black-and-white design "sends a powerful message that Seattle is ready to welcome the world," Peter Tomozawa, CEO of Seattle's local World Cup organizing committee, said in a news release.

• Consider it the most visible sign yet of the soccer fever set to sweep Seattle this summer.