Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 City Guide

Seattle, known as the Emerald City, hosts 6 matches at centrally located Lumen Field (official site). The city’s official organizing committee is Seattle FWC 2026 (official site).

Quick Navigation

• City Overview
• Match Schedule
• Getting There
• Where to Stay
• Soccer Culture
• Soccer Bars
• Must-See vs Local Favorites
• Local Resources
• Walk/Bike Guide
• Local Creators
• Pickup Soccer
• Outdoor Activities

City Overview & Practical Information

Weather:

• June/July: Expect mild-to-warm weather with average daytime highs of 71–76°F (22–24°C) and nighttime lows of 54–58°F (12–14°C).
• Historically, rainfall is light: June ~1.6 inches, July ~0.7 inches, but drizzle is possible; bring a light rain jacket for evening matches.

Customs/Etiquette:

• Seattleites are known for their reserved friendliness (“Seattle freeze”), but are helpful when approached.
• Sustainable habits are valued—use correct sorting for recycling and compost bins.

Safety Tips:

• Downtown and key visitor areas are generally safe, but exercise caution after dark along poorly lit streets, and be mindful of increased foot traffic and crowds for the tournament.
• For alerts, register with AlertSeattle (official site).

Essential Transportation/City Apps:

• Transit GO Ticket (official site): Buy bus, light rail, ferry, and streetcar tickets.
• OneBusAway on iOS / Google Play: Real-time bus arrival info.
• Lime (official site) / Lime on iOS / Google Play: E-bikes and e-scooters.
• Uber on iOS / Google Play, 
• Lyft on iOS / Google Play:

Seattle Public Transit Options:

• King County Metro (https://www.kingcounty.gov/)
• Streetcar (https://www.seattlestreetcar.org/)
• Sound Trainsit (https://www.soundtransit.org/)
• Monorail (https://www.seattlemonorail.com/)
• Water Taxi (https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/water-taxi.aspx)
• Ferry (https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/)

Airport:

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) (official site)
• Major hub airlines: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines

Flight Booking Sites:

• Going
  • Receive incredible flight deals for specific airports
• Google Flights
  • Research flights in the “Explore” mode
• Expedia
  • Holistic booking engine for Flights + Cars + Rentals or one at time
• Kayak

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Match Schedule & Host City Details

Match Number	Date	Kickoff Time	Round Type	Teams
16	15 June	TBD	Group Stage	TBD
32	19 June	TBD	Group Stage	TBD
52	24 June	TBD	Group Stage	TBD
63	26 June	TBD	Group Stage	TBD
82	1 July	TBD	Round of 32	TBD
94	6 July	TBD	Round of 16	TBD

• Stadium Capacity: Lumen Field will host matches with a reduced seating of around 68,740 for FIFA events.
• Lumen Field Stadium Guide Review (Stadium Guide)
• Official FIFA Schedule
• Main fan area: Seattle Center Fan Fest (official site)
• Additional viewing zones: Announced across Washington, including Olympia, Tacoma, Spokane, Richland, Kennewick, and Vancouver [Seattle Sports Commission]SeattleFWC26.

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Getting to the Stadium & Fan Fest

Stadium Transportation

• Public Transport:
  • Take Link Light Rail (official site) to “Stadium” or “International District/Chinatown” stations. 10-minute ride from downtown.
  • Buses: Metro Transit routes 21, 101, 150 serve the stadium area; use Transit GO Ticket.
• Driving/Parking:
  • Onsite parking is limited; pre-book via Lumen Field Parking (official site) or use overflow city lots.
• Walking/Biking:
  • 25-minute walk from Pike Place Market downtown.
  • Bike lanes lead to Lumen Field from SODO and International District; bike parking available.
  • Lime and Seattle Bike Share options.
• Area Safety/Practices:
  • Expect extremely high pedestrian volume tournament days.
  • Avoid SODO train tracks at night, watch for street closures and temporary detours announced via SDOT Alerts.

Fan Fest Transportation

• Seattle Center Fan Fest:
  • Link Light Rail: Hop off at “Westlake” station, transfer to Monorail or bus.
  • Walking: ~25 minutes from Pike Place, or 10 minutes by Monorail from Westlake Station.
• Seattle Center Transit Info (official site)
• Visit Seattle FIFA 2026 Info

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Top Neighborhoods to Stay In

• Downtown:
  • Standard for central access, direct Light Rail to airport/stadium.
  • High safety and convenient, but busy.
  • Downtown Seattle Association (official site)
• Capitol Hill:
  • Creative, youthful, LGBTQ-friendly, filled with nightlife and food; 25-minute walk or quick bus/Uber to stadium.
  • Generally safe; vibrant late-night crowds.
• Belltown:
  • Trendy, near waterfront and Pike Place; walkable to stadium/fan fest.
  • Well-patrolled, mid-to-high price lodging.
• South Lake Union:
  • Modern, newer hotels, lakeside parks, short light rail/tram to main venues.
• International District:
  • Immersive Asian cuisine and culture, close to stadium, budget-friendly hotels; well-connected by transit.

Neighborhood reference: Visit Seattle’s Neighborhood Guide

Best Sites to Book Lodging

• Hotels / B&Bs
  • Booking.com
  • Expedia
  • Hotels.com
• Apartment / Loft / Home Rentals
  • Airbnb
  • Vrbo

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Soccer Culture & History

• MLS: Seattle Sounders FC (official site)—MLS club with a passionate supporter base (Emerald City Supporters).
• NWSL: OL Reign (official site)—top NWSL side.
• Historic venues: Starfire Sports (official site) (Tukwila, training HQ), Memorial Stadium (official site)
• Soccer murals: View near Lumen Field & in Georgetown (SODO Track project)
• Youth/community groups: Washington Youth Soccer (official site), Seattle Soccer Club (official site)
• Supporters’ traditions: matchday march from Occidental Park led by Emerald City Supporters

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Top Soccer Bars & Watch Spots

1. The George & Dragon Pub (Yelp)
   • 206 N 36th St, Fremont
   • Legendary NW soccer bar; British pub vibes, banners everywhere
2. The Dray
   • 708 NW 65th St Seattle, WA 98117
3. Queen Anne Beerhall (official site)
   • 203 W Thomas St; near Seattle Center Monorail
   • Huge communal tables, multi-screen, European beers
4. Elysian Fields (official site)
   • 542 1st Ave S; steps from Lumen Field
   • Pre/post-match energy, craft beer, local crowd

Additional Research Sources

• Sounder at Heart – Seattle soccer bars guide
• Eater Seattle – Where to Watch Soccer
• Sports Illustrated Seattle World Cup venue preview (2026)

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Tourist Hits vs Local Favorites

Tourist Must-Sees

• Pike Place Market (official site) — Historic food stalls, fish-throwing, open 9am–6pm.
• Space Needle (official site) — Panoramic city/sea views, timed entry recommended.
• Seattle Art Museum (official site) — Downtown, including Global soccer art exhibit (June 2026 TBC).
• Chihuly Garden & Glass (official site) — World-famous glass sculptures, next to Space Needle.
• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) (official site) — Music, sports, gaming exhibits.

Local Favorites

• Gas Works Park — City skyline, locals’ sunset spot, 20 minutes by transit from downtown.
• Georgetown Neighborhood (official site) — Indie shops, SODO murals, alternative foodie scene.
• Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder (official site) — Working locks, salmon runs, beautiful walk—unique NW experience.
• Volunteer Park & Conservatory (official site) — Historic park, conservatory, city view water tower, Capitol Hill.
• Fremont Troll  — Offbeat public sculpture, iconic selfies.

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Best Local Blogs & Curated Sites

To Do

• The Stranger Things To Do (official site) — Alt-weekly, event calendar
• Seattle Met— High-quality event/culture roundups
• Do206— Concerts, pop-ups, nightlife, festivals

Food

• Eater Seattle (official site) — Trend-spotting dining coverage
• Seattle Foodie Adventure
• Seattle Magazine (dining section)

Nightlife

• Seattle Sailing Ship – List of nightlife options in various areas
• EverOut Seattle (official site) — Curated club/bar/party listings

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Bike/Walk Friendly Score & Articles

• Walk Score: Seattle is rated “Very Walkable” (76/100) downtown, with highly walkable neighborhoods.
• Biking: “Bikeable” (70/100); hilly terrain, but miles of protected bike lanes and scenic rides.
• Best neighborhoods for walk/bike: Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Fremont, Ballard, Downtown.

Bike-share options:

• Lime Bike (official site)
• Veo Bike & Scooter Share (official site)

Walking tour companies:

• Seattle Free Walking Tours (official site)
• Underground Tour (official site)

City walkability/bike resources:

• Seattle Department of Transportation (walking/biking)
• Seattle Bike Blog (official site)
• Walk Score Seattle

Safety:

• Use marked crossings; bike lanes are well-marked but expect heavy traffic during Cup events.
• Lighted paths are safest after dark; helmets required for all bikers.

Transit integration:

• Buses and light rail allow bikes, see King County Metro bike info.

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Modern Explorer: Creators to Follow

TikTok Creators

• Coming Soon

Instagram Creators

• Seattle Foodie Adventure

YouTube Content

• Coming Soon

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Pickup Soccer & Casual Play

• Cal Anderson Park (official site) (Capitol Hill; 1635 11th Ave; Light Rail to Capitol Hill station) — Free artificial turf pitch, see morning and evening pickup.
• Miller Playfield — Open play, frequent group meetups via Seattle Pickup Soccer (Facebook).
• Green Lake Park (official site) — Expansive fields; friendly games, casual skill level.
• Organized groups: Meetup – Seattle Pickup Soccer
•  TeamLinkt (iOS) / Google Play for local game organizing.

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Outdoors & Hiking Trail Recommendations

• Discovery Park Loop (official site): 2.8-mile easy loop, family-friendly, sea and mountain views; Metro bus 24 from downtown.
• Mount Si (official site): 7.6 miles round trip, challenging, trailhead via Trailhead Direct shuttle (seasonal).
• Rattlesnake Ledge : 4-mile moderate hike, stunning cliff views; Metro Route 208 to North Bend.
• Seward Park (official site): Waterfront, wildlife, shaded, good for walking or easy cycling.
• Twin Falls Trail (official site): 2.6 miles, waterfall views, accessible by car/bus; great for families.
• Trail safety: Stay on marked paths, pack water and snacks, start early to avoid crowds.
• Permits: Most local parks free; state/national forest trails may require Discover Pass (official site).