Fan Guide to Seattle

Make the most of your match week in Seattle: see more, stress less.

Introduction

Seattle for World Cup 2026 Visitors

Seattle does match week well: compact core, walkable waterfront, and transit that drops you beside the stadium. Downtown sights cluster around the Seattle Center/Waterfront spine, so you can stack a morning at Pike Place Market with an afternoon ride up the Space Needle and still make kickoff. Between games, wander art-forward spaces like the Olympic Sculpture Park or the revitalized piers by the Seattle Aquarium. Link light rail connects the airport to downtown and the stadium area with simple, contactless taps. The city’s vibe skews outdoorsy and music-savvy, with neighborhoods—Capitol Hill, Belltown, Pioneer Square—offering easy day-to-night pivots. Expect a welcoming, multilingual city experience supported by official language-access programs.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 755,078
Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7)
Airports: Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA); Seattle Paine Field Passenger Terminal, Everett (PAE); King County International/Boeing Field (BFI)
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Typical highs in the low–upper 70s °F (21–25°C) with mids-50s °F (12–14°C) lows; summer is among the driest, clearest periods per NOAA climate normals.
Language: English
Drinking age: 21

The Pitch

Lumen Field

Lumen Field will host FIFA World Cup 26™ matches in Seattle. The open-air, canopied venue sits just south of downtown in the stadium district, adjacent to Pioneer Square. For the tournament, a FIFA-grade natural grass pitch will be installed over the stadium’s base system. Primary Link light rail access is via Stadium Station and International District/Chinatown Station.

Stadium Basics

Location: 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134 (stadium district south of downtown).
Surface: Natural grass installed for FIFA World Cup 26.
Getting there: Link light rail to Stadium Station or International District/Chinatown Station; both are signed for Lumen Field.
Bag policy & payments: Clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or 1-gallon clear bag) and small clutches ≤4.5″ x 6.5″; venue is cashless with cash-to-card kiosks.

Full stadium details

Match dates in Seattle

June 15, 2026 — Group Stage
June 19, 2026 — Group Stage
June 24, 2026 — Group Stage
June 26, 2026 — Round of 32
July 1, 2026 — Round of 32
July 6, 2026 — Round of 16

Inside Seattle

Districts & Vibes

Pioneer Square is the pre-match gathering zone—brick alleys, squares, and classic pubs a short walk from Lumen Field. Connect it to the Central Waterfront for sunset strolls and to Belltown for compact nightlife and dining.

Capitol Hill brings café culture by day and clubs by night, while Ballard mixes Scandinavian maritime heritage with a modern beer scene. Stitch two or three districts together via Link, bus, or an easy rideshare for a full fan day without backtracking.

Global Eats, Local Pours

Seattle’s Food & Drink Hit List

For one-stop grazing, Pike Place Market is still the city’s belly—produce stalls, counter joints, and artisan bites packed into a nine-acre historic district. Just uphill, the Seattle Center Armory works well between museum stops and matches, with fast-casual local vendors and plenty of seating.

Hop neighborhoods by theme: Ballard’s brewery corridor lines up taprooms and patios near the locks; Capitol Hill keeps the late-night energy with cocktail bars and music venues; the Chinatown–International District is a go-to for pan-Asian comfort food before a night match.

Iconic Seattle

Must-Sees Between Matches

Start at Seattle Center: ride the Space Needle for city–mountain panoramas, then pair it with Chihuly Garden and Glass next door. Pop into MoPOP for music, sci-fi and gaming exhibits, or walk down the hill to the free Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront.

Downtown, Pike Place Market’s historic arcades buzz with fish tosses and indie food stalls; continue to the reborn waterfront for the Seattle Aquarium (now expanded with the Ocean Pavilion) and pier promenades. All sit within a quick stroll or monorail hop of central hotels and transit.

Discover Seattle Through

Local Experiences & Tours

Get your sea legs on a narrated Argosy Harbor Cruise—Elliott Bay views, port ops, and skyline history in under an hour. Architecture buffs can join Seattle Architecture Foundation walking tours that read the city through its facades and public spaces.

Prefer pedals? Seattle Cycling Tours runs guided rides on city streets and trails. Indoors, major museums (SAM, MOHAI) offer rotating talks and guided experiences; SAM anchors three sites including the Olympic Sculpture Park, while MOHAI dives deep on regional stories in South Lake Union.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

On Sounders/Seahawks matchdays, Pioneer Square turns electric—pre-game traditions like the “March to the Match” roll from Occidental Square toward the stadium, with plazas and bars filling early. It’s the most reliable fan atmosphere within a 10-minute walk of the gates.

After the final whistle, pivot to Capitol Hill for late-night venues and dance floors, or to Belltown for compact bar-hopping closer to downtown hotels. Both areas are covered in the DMO’s nightlife guides and are quick rides from the stadium district.