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SEATTLE — FIFA revealed Wednesday which groups the host nations of the 2026 World Cup – United States, Mexico and Canada – will compete in during the tournament.
Lumen Field was selected as one of 11 stadiums in the United States to host matches for the 2026 World Cup in June 2022.
There is one scenario that would mean the United States would play a pivotal knockout round game at Lumen Field.
With the host countries’ group placement finalized, we know the potential sites they could play in the Knockout Round, depending on where they finish. The knockout rounds of the World Cup are single-elimination.
If the United States men’s national team (USMNT) wins their group, the path to the knockout stage would be the following:
If the United States finishes second in their group, here is their Knockout Round path:
The USMNT is already guaranteed to play at Lumen Field on June 19, 2026, in one of four group-stage matches hosted in Seattle. The other three group-stage matches will be on June 15, June 24 and June 26, 2026. The countries in those matches won’t be decided until 2026.
The 69,000-seat capacity venue nestled in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood will also host two knockout matches on July 1 and July 6 for the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026.
These will be the first World Cup matchups played in the Pacific Northwest since Portland hosted matches for the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cups. The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994.
The process of eventually putting down a grass surface at Lumen Field for the 2026 World Cup began in February, the head of the Seattle local organizing committee said at the time.
Seattle World Cup committee CEO Peter Tomozawa said the grass that will be used for six games at the stadium during the World Cup is already being grown.
Lumen Field has used an artificial surface since it opened in 2002, including a new one currently being installed, as the home for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, Seattle Sounders of the MLS and Seattle Reign of the NWSL.
The men’s World Cup has never used an artificial surface for games, while the Women’s World Cup used artificial fields during a 2015 event in Canada that was criticized by players. The final in 2015 was played on an artificial field at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.
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