USA ★ USA opener · June 19 Groups B · D · G 6 matches

Seattle
SEA.

Northwestern tech hub, coffee capital and birthplace of the 1991 grunge revolution: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden — all within 12 months in one city. Here Bill Gates founded Microsoft (1975), Bezos founded Amazon (1994), Boeing (1916). Lumen Field on Elliott Bay's shore — the loudest NFL stadium: 137.6 dB. The USA opens Group D against Australia on June 19. Above the city — Mount Rainier on 80 clear days per year + Space Needle since the 1962 World's Fair.

4.1 million in Greater Seattle +19°C June · dry PT · UTC −7 (DST)

Main arena

Stadium
«Lumen Field».

Lumen Field — Match Atmosphere — Match Atmosphere · seattleseahawks.com (via webflow CDN), photos from open sources

Lumen Field — General View — General view · dreamstime.com, photos from open sources

Lumen Field

Stadium in SoDo (South of Downtown), on Elliott Bay's shore, 1.5 km from Pike Place Market. Opened July 20, 2002, budget $430 million (public-private fundraising by Paul Allen, Microsoft founder). 69,000 seats with roof coverage over 70% of stands — Seattle is, after all, a rainy capital. Home to Seattle Seahawks (NFL, Super Bowl XLVIII champions 2014) and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS, 2 Cups 2016, 2019; CONCACAF Champions League 2022). Loudest NFL stadium — record 137.6 dB at the San Francisco match in 2013. At World Cup 2026 — 6 group-stage matches.

Opened

July 20, 2002

Cost

$430 million

Field size

105 × 68 m

Surface

FieldTurf (artificial)

Architect

Ellerbe Becket · LMN

Clubs

Seahawks · Sounders FC

Match Days in Seattle

Six matches,
group stage only.

15Mon · June 15

Belgium — EgyptGroup G · Matchday 1

12:00 PT

★ Belgium

19Fri · June 19

USA — AustraliaGroup D · Matchday 2

12:00 PT

★ USA

24Wed · June 24

Bosnia and Herzegovina — QatarGroup B · Matchday 3

12:00 PT

Group

26Fri · June 26

Egypt — IranGroup G · Matchday 3

Atmosphere · role · route

What you need to know
about the city.

Atmosphere

Coffee, grunge and Tech-capitalism.

Seattle — the city that launched three revolutions of the 20th century: the personal computer (Microsoft 1975), e-commerce (Amazon 1994), and grunge (1991). Pike Place Market with its flying fish has operated since 1907; the first Starbucks opened there in 1971. By 2026 — 1.4 million Amazon employees globally, Gates and Bezos estates in Medina worth a billion dollars. Above the city — the Space Needle from the 1962 World's Fair and Mount Rainier on 80 clear days a year. Rain is a myth (940 mm/year, less than NYC), but the reputation stuck forever.

Tech + grunge capital Pike Place 1907 Mt. Rainier on 80 clear days

Role

Hub USA + three groups.

6 matches, all group stage. The main event — USA vs Australia on June 19 (12:00 PT) in the second match of Group D. Belgium opens Group G against Egypt on June 15; Bosnia-Qatar on June 24; Egypt-Iran on June 26. The stadium has a roof covering 70% of the stands — a smart hedge against Seattle's typical spring downpours, though June is usually dry (8 rainy days).

6 group matches · 0 knockout ★ USA open on June 19

Route — for fans

SEA → Mt. Rainier.

On a free day — 1.5 hours southeast to Mount Rainier National Park. Paradise (1647 m) — the main visitor area with alpine wildflowers June-August. Alternative — 40 minutes east to North Bend / Snoqualmie Falls (Twin Peaks locations) with Twede's Cafe (the Double R Diner from TV); or a 35-minute ferry to Bainbridge Island for a village lunch by the water.

Climate

+19°C, dry. Long day.

Mediterranean-Marine: June is the driest but coolest month (+18-22°C, 60% humidity). Sunset at 21:10, giving an unusually long match day until 23:00. Rain — 8 days in June (normal), but usually light, and Lumen Field has a roof. Fans without a hood — a light jacket is essential, especially in the evening.

Fan zone

Seattle Center. 40 000.

The main FIFA Fan Festival — at the foot of the Space Needle (Seattle Center, former 1962 World's Fair site). A giant screen five stories high at MoPOP, food trucks with tex-mex and pho, craft IPA from Fremont Brewing. Alongside — open-air concerts at Mural Amphitheatre. Alternative — Pier 62/63 on Elliott Bay for matches with a water backdrop.

Seattle map

Where to go,
what to see.

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All locations

Facts

Seven things
about Seattle.

♫ · Sound of the City · Grunge & Pacific Northwest

Seattle — birthplace of grunge.

In 1991, grunge from Seattle turned all pop music upside down. A selection — artists born or active in Seattle or its surroundings.

01
Nirvana — Smells Like Teen Spirit 1991 · Aberdeen WA / Seattle

Top 6 Billboard. The Nevermind album knocked Michael Jackson off #1. The end of the '80s ended right here.
Open in Yandex Music →
02
Pearl Jam — Alive 1991 · Seattle

The Ten album is one of the best-selling rock debuts in history. Eddie Vedder and company are the main alternative to Nirvana.
Open in Yandex Music →
03
Soundgarden — Black Hole Sun 1994 · Seattle

Top 2 Modern Rock. The darkest ballad of the grunge era; Chris Cornell is Seattle's main voice.
Open in Yandex Music →
04
Alice in Chains — Man in the Box 1990 · Seattle

Top 20 Mainstream Rock. AiC is the darkest (but also the most melodic) of the four major grunge bands.
Open in Yandex Music →
05
Jimi Hendrix — Purple Haze 1967 · Central District, Seattle

Hendrix — the greatest guitarist in history — was born and raised in Seattle, in the Central District neighborhood.
Open in Yandex Music →
06
Sir Mix-a-Lot — Baby Got Back 1992 · Seattle

#1 Billboard for 5 weeks. Seattle's main rap export.
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07
Heart — Barracuda 1977 · Seattle

Top 15 Billboard. The Wilson sisters — the most famous hard-rock band with female vocals.
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08
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz — Thrift Shop 2012 · Seattle

#1 Billboard. Independent rap without a label — the anthem of Seattle's second wave.
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09
Foo Fighters — Everlong 1997 · Seattle / DC

Top 3 Modern Rock. Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters in Seattle after Nirvana.
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10
Mother Love Bone — Crown of Thorns 1990 · Seattle

Pre-grunge era. Andy Wood died of an overdose in 1990; musicians from Pearl Jam came out of MLB.
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SeattleSEA.

Stadium«Lumen Field».

Lumen Field

Six matches,group stage only.

What you need to knowabout the city.

Coffee, grunge and Tech-capitalism.

Hub USA + three groups.

SEA → Mt. Rainier.

+19°C, dry. Long day.

Seattle Center. 40 000.

Where to go,what to see.

Seven thingsabout Seattle.

Seattle — birthplace of grunge.

Seattle
SEA.

Stadium
«Lumen Field».

Six matches,
group stage only.

What you need to know
about the city.

Where to go,
what to see.

Seven things
about Seattle.