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Seattle, USA, 2026 World Cup City Guide
Everything you need to know about visiting Seattle for the 2026 World Cup ☕
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 12 June 2025
What’s going on! Ready to get to Seattle for the 2026 World Cup? We’re here to help you set up your World Cup travel plans with information on transportation to and from the city, between host cities, as well as to and from Lumen Field (which is officially called “Seattle Stadium” by FIFA). We’ll also help you navigate hotel accommodations, car/house rentals, public transportation in and around Seattle, and much more.
Learn more about visiting Seattle for the World Cup
“The mountain is out!” as they say in Seattle
Mount Rainier is one of the most recognizable sights in this Pacific Northwestern city, and when the clouds part, the locals like to mark the occasion by noting, “The mountain is out.” The mountain isn’t the only things this city is known for. Seattle is the home of Starbucks and the grunge scene, but outside of Caramel Macchiatos and Pearl Jam, “The Emerald City” is known for its stunning natural beauty. The city is a tech hub, too, home to major companies like Amazon and Microsoft. With iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, this equal-parts innovative and laid-back city draws in tourists year-round.
What will bring you to Seattle is Lumen Field, which, while also the home base for the Seattle Seahawks, is the stadium that routinely hosts Major League Soccer games and National Women’s League Soccer games. It is here, close to Downtown Seattle, where six games of the 2026 World Cup will take place.
While prices in Seattle are generally lower than in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, they’re likely to spike for the 2026 World Cup. We suggest getting ahead of the rush, while understanding that budget pricing might not be quite so low-budget in reality. Since most places to stay in Seattle during the World Cup have not released their availability for next summer yet, we recommend signing up to our email list so we can share more information as soon as it becomes available.
Seattle 2026 World Cup FAQs
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Lumen Field (called Seattle Stadium by FIFA) is in Seattle, located in the SoDo (South of Downtown) district.
It’s accessible for fans staying in the city center by Link light rail, Sounder trains, ST Express buses, and several Metro routes. Lumen Field is a short walk from the Stadium and International District/Chinatown Link stations. Sounder Game Trains operate on Seattle Sounders' game days, which is an arrangement that will hopefully extend to World Cup 2026.
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MLS: Seattle Sounders FC
NWSL: Seattle Reign FC – Owned by the parent company of European giants Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (of Lyon, France)
USL: Spokane Velocity FC – The only Washington-based team to play in USL League One (albeit in Spokane, 280 miles away from Seattle). USL League Two has a 9-team Northwest division, including Seattle's Ballard FC and West Seattle Junction FC. And also, not from Washington, but the Portland Bangers FC, named after "the British word for sausages" – their crest even features a sausage!
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Vancouver, Canada (231 miles stadium-to-stadium)
San Francisco Bay Area (834 miles stadium-to-stadium)
Los Angeles (1,140 miles stadium-to-stadium)
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Six World Cup games in total will be played in Seattle; Four group games (including Team USA's second game), one Round of 32, and one Round of 16.
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Seattle’s summer weather is generally mild and pleasant, with average highs in the mid-70s°F (around 24°C) and cooler nights in the 50s–60s°F (10–16°C).
July is actually the driest month of the year, so while Seattle is famous for its rain, it’s usually sunny, clear, and comfortable during this time. June can still be a bit more unpredictable – some gray skies or drizzle – but it’s usually clearing up as summer kicks in.
Which 2026 World Cup matches will be held in Seattle?
Match 16 – Monday, June 15, 2026 – Group Stage (Group A)
Match 32 – Friday, June 19, 2026 – Group Stage (Group E) - USMNT’s second game
Match 52 – Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – Group Stage (Group B)
Match 63 – Friday, June 26, 2026 – Group Stage (Group K)
Match 82 – Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Round of 32 (Knockout stage)
Match 94 – Monday, July 6, 2026 – Round of 16 (Knockout stage)
Fan-Fueled Adventures in Seattle
We spoke to football-loving locals to get their take on the 2026 World Cup host cities they call home. Philip Benenati had this to share:
Above: World Cup fever. Photo courtesy of Philip Benenati
Seattle is a great city to watch sports in! The stadium is right downtown, adjacent to the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood and a close walk to Pike Place Market via the new waterfront park and boulevard along First Ave and Post Alley (named for where they used to tie up horses). There are lots of bars and restaurants in between, especially as you get closer to the stadium.
Lumen Field is loud. Designed to echo cheers and funnel them up and over towards the field, cheering had measured on the Richter scale here. I’ve had ringing in my ears for two days after a game. Consider ear plugs!
If you don’t have a ticket for the game… Head to Sluggers, Pike Place Bar and Grill, which are hidden in plain sight at Pike Place Market. Owl n’ Thistle, a Post Alley hidden gem, or Buckleys in Belltown are lively sports bars with lots of TVs and seating. I’d also consider pregame sushi at Japonesa – happy hour prices is the way to go. You could also have a beer with a view at Old Stove Brewing, or a Post Alley cider on the patio at Locust Cider Post Alley.
Visiting Seattle for the 2026 World Cup
Seattle is a perfect choice to host matches at the 2026 World Cup due to its passionate footy culture: Seattle Sounders FC games consistently draw some of the highest attendance figures in Major League Soccer. Lumen Field is renowned for its electric atmosphere and modern amenities and is well-equipped to host international events.
Beyond the matches, Seattle is enhancing the fan experience with events like the Fan Celebration at the Seattle Center and additional fan zones across Washington state, which aim to create an inclusive and festive environment for both locals and visitors.
Doing Seattle like a local
Seattleites don’t just drink coffee – they experience it. You’ll hear passionate debates about the best single-origin roast or the ideal water temperature. Everyone has their favorite local roaster, and it’s probably not Starbucks. Getting around Seattle can be its own adventure. Locals enjoy biking scenic routes like the Burke-Gilman Trail, hopping on ferries to places like upscale Bainbridge Island, or even booking a seaplane to the San Juans, because why not? Seattle also has a ridiculous number of microbreweries and cideries, and locals love hitting up spots like Optimism Brewing or Schilling Cider House. There’s even a bar where you can bring your dog, order a drink, and chill – it’s called Norm’s. And visit Fremont, the artsy neighborhood packed with oddball charm. There’s a giant troll living under a bridge (literally), and quirky sculptures to see, like the Lenin statue. Plus, it’s where you’ll find the Fremont Sunday Market, which feels like a curated treasure hunt. No wonder Real World Season 1 was set in Seattle.
