Seattle selected as one of 16 host cities for 2026 World Cup
The World Cup is coming to Seattle.
Thursday afternoon, FIFA revealed the 16 cities selected to host matches when the international men’s soccer tournament makes its return to North America in 2026.
Seattle will be one of them.
Though the city has hosted major soccer events in the past — including the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final and 2019 MLS Cup, both won by Seattle Sounders FC — this will be the first time the men’s World Cup visits the Pacific Northwest.
The expanded 48-team tournament, hosted by three countries for the first time in history in Canada, Mexico and the United States, will include 80 matches played at venues across North America. The U.S. is set to host matches in 11 cities, while Mexico will host matches in three cities and Canada matches in two.
The full list of host cities, as announced by FIFA, includes:
Canada
Toronto
Vancouver
Mexico
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Mexico City
United States
Seattle
San Francisco Bay Area
Los Angeles
Kansas City
Dallas
Atlanta
Houston
Boston
Philadelphia
Miami
New York/New Jersey
This is the first time the men’s World Cup will return to North America since the U.S. hosted its first tournament in 1994, and fourth time in history North American countries will host the international event. Mexico has hosted twice before, in 1970 and 1986, and becomes the first country in history to host the event three times. The U.S. (1999 and 2003) and Canada (2015) have both previously hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Seattle is among the cities set to host World Cup matches for the first time when the tournament arrives during the summer of 2026.
“This is perhaps the biggest day for the sport of soccer in the history of our region,” Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer, who is also the chair of SEA 2026, the city’s organizing committee, said in a press release.
“To be awarded the FIFA World Cup is not only momentous for the city of Seattle, but for all of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Crossing the finish line to become one of the host cities for this global event is a testament to the hard work of countless people. To the many individuals and agencies that were involved, on behalf of our entire local organizing committee, I would like to offer a sincere thank you and congratulations! We cannot wait to host FIFA World Cup matches at Lumen Field in 2026.”
Seattle has a rich soccer history, and recently set the CCL record for attendance, when Lumen Field hosted the second leg of the 2022 final in May, and 68,741 watched the Sounders win the title with a victory over visiting Pumas UNAM.
The Sounders also set Lumen Field’s overall attendance record during the 2019 MLS Cup, when the club secured its second league title in four seasons with a win over Toronto FC in front of 69,274.
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 2:30 PM.
