Lumen Field Seattle Stadium Guide

World Cup 2026 Stadiums: Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium)

Lumen Field, Seattle

Situated south of downtown Seattle, the stadium opened in 2002 and is the home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC of the MLS and Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Lumen Field is one of three stadiums on the West Coast of the USA along with SoFi Stadium in LA and Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. In addition BC Place Vancouver in Canada is 230 km north of Seattle.

During the 2026 tournament it will be known as Seattle Stadium to comply with FIFA regulations on sponsorship and will stage 6 games in total including host USA's game with Australia.

These are:

June 15: Group G - Belgium 1 vs Egypt 1
June 19: Group D - USA 2 vs Australia 0
June 24: Group B - Qatar 1 vs Bosnia & Herzegovina 3
June 26: Group G - Egypt 1 vs Iran 1
July 1: Round of 32 match; Belgium 3 vs Senegal 2
July 6: Round of 16 match; USA 1 vs Belgium 4

Capacity, History & Design

The stadium first opened in 2002 on the site of the former Kingdome Stadium after two years of construction. It has a capacity of 68,740 for NFL reduced to 37,722 for soccer games.

The wider complex includes Lumen Field, the Lumen Field Event Center and WAMU Theater (Washington Music Theater).

The arena's architecture features a sweeping roof structure that both amplifies crowd noise while also providing partial weather protection.

The stadium also incorporates several sustainable practices such as energy-efficient lighting, extensive recycling and composting programs, water conservation systems, and the use of locally sourced materials during construction and renovations.

Indeed around half of the rubble from the demolished Kingdome Stadium was used in the construction of the new arena which was first known as the Seahawks Stadium (2002-2004), then Qwest Field (2004-2011), followed by CenturyLink Field (2011-2020) and now Lumen Field.

Uses

The stadium is home to three professional sports teams, the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC as well as Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's professional soccer in the U.S.

Lumen Field was built with soccer very much in mind and has become a major venue for the sport in the United States.

Seattle Sounders

Its first sporting event featured the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues, who began playing home matches there regularly in 2003. In 2009, Seattle Sounders FC launched its inaugural MLS season at the stadium, which later hosted MLS Cup finals in both 2009 and 2019.

The 2019 championship drew a record crowd of 69,274 spectators. The ground has also staged the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Open Cup finals and the second leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, all won by the Sounders and each setting attendance records for their respective tournaments.

In addition, the stadium has hosted matches from the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa América Centenario in 2016.

Some former Seattle Sounders players known to a wider audience include Clint Dempsey, who was at the club from 2013-2018 netting 57 goals with 29 assists, Swiss keeper Stefan Frei who has been with the Sounders since 2014 playing in over 350 games and Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins who enjoyed a telepathic understanding with Dempsey during his two years on the Pacific Coast before a move to China.

Some other foreign stars to spend time in Seattle include former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg (one season), Peruvian striker Raúl Ruidíaz and Uruguayan midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro.

Altogether the Sounders have won nine major trophies since joining MLS in 2009, becoming the first MLS club to win all five major North American trophies. They are one of the most successful clubs in the league with four U.S. Open Cups, two MLS Cups, a CONCACAF Champions League title, a Supporters' Shield, and a Leagues Cup.

As a music venue, the stadium has also staged concerts and pro-wrestling events. Performers who have played here include Beyoncé, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Guns N' Roses, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, Metallica and more.

Seattle Sounders home game. — Seattle Sounders home game

King Street Station. — King Street Station

Access

The nearest commercial airport to Lumen Field is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), located about 14 miles away, a 20-minute drive depending on traffic.

Seattle Sounders encourage their fans to make use of public transport to reach the stadium. By bus from downtown Seattle take the King County Metro Bus service to within three blocks of the arena or a Sound Transit bus service from Pierce, King and Snohomish counties also close to the stadium.

Sounder trains to King Street Station run on select weekend matchdays throughout the MLS season.

There are also Link light rail or ST Express buses from SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) to Northgate. There are two stations within walking distance of Lumen Field on this route. They are International District/Chinatown and Stadium.

Address: 800 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134, USA.

View of the stadium from a helicopter. — View of the stadium from a helicopter

Accessibility

The stadium has 1,400 seats for those with disabilities and their companions located in various sections of the arena. Elevators are located in the NE, NW, and SW corners, providing access to all levels, including the Club and Suite floors. In addition, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant restrooms are located throughout the stadium, along with family/nursing rooms.