If the U.S. wins its World Cup group and advances that far in the tournament, it will play its round of 16 matches at Lumen Field.
SEATTLE — FIFA announced Wednesday which groups 2026 World Cup hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada will play in during the tournament.
Lumen Field has been selected as one of 11 stadiums in the United States to host matches for the 2026 World Cup, which will begin in June 2022.
One scenario is that the U.S. could play a key final tournament game at Lumen Field.
How Seattle could host US knockout games
The group rankings of the host country have been finalized, and the possible locations for matches in the knockout rounds have been revealed based on their rankings. The knockout rounds of the World Cup are played in a single-elimination format.
If the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) wins their group stage, their path to the knockout stage would look like this:
- Top 32: San Francisco
- Top 16: Seattle
- Quarterfinals: Los Angeles
- Semifinal: Dallas
- Final: New York
If the USA finishes second in their group, their path through the knockout rounds would look like this:
- Round 32: Dallas
- Top 16: Atlanta
- Quarterfinals: Kansas City
- Semifinal: Atlanta
- Final: New York
What other World Cup matches will Seattle host in 2026?
The U.S. Men’s National Team is already set to play at Lumen Field on June 19, 2026 as one of four group stage matches to be held in Seattle. The remaining three group stage matches will be played on June 15, June 24 and June 26, 2026. The nations that will play in those matches will not be determined until 2026.
The 69,000-seat venue, located in Seattle’s Sodo district, is scheduled to host two knockout matches on July 1 and 6 for the 2026 World Cup, which is expanded to 48 teams.
It will be the first World Cup matches to be played in the Pacific Northwest since Portland hosted Women’s World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003. The United States last hosted the Men’s World Cup in 1994.
Preparing for the World Cup
Work to finally lay the grass at Lumen Field for the 2026 World Cup began in February, the head of Seattle’s local organizing committee said at the time.
Seattle World Cup Committee CEO Peter Tomozawa said the grass has already been grown for the six matches that will be played at the stadium during the World Cup.
Since opening in 2002, Lumen Field has been home to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, MLS’s Seattle Sounders and NWSL’s Seattle Reign and has used artificial turf, with a new one currently being installed.
Artificial turf fields have never been used for a Men’s World Cup match, but an artificial turf field was used in the Women’s World Cup in 2015 in Canada, which was criticized by players. The 2015 final was played on an artificial turf field at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.
