Seattle could get another shot at hosting the FIFA World Cup — this time the women take center stage
Nov 12, 2026, 8:21 AM
Match officials and players line up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium. (Photo: David Ramos, Getty Images)
(Photo: David Ramos, Getty Images)
Lumen Field is on FIFA’s list of potential venues for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, with Seattle considered for matches ranging from the group stage to the semifinals.
Seattle may not have to wait long for another shot at World Cup glory.
Just months after hosting six matches during the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup, the Emerald City is back in the running for another global soccer showcase. This time, the spotlight could belong to the women.
FIFA released its evaluation report Wednesday for the proposed 2031 Women’s World Cup, and Seattle is among 20 potential host cities included in the four-country bid by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.
Lumen Field is being considered as a venue for matches from the group stage through the semifinals.
That’s a pretty big deal for a city that just proved it can play on soccer’s biggest stage.
Seattle’s FIFA World Cup review
Seattle hosted six men’s World Cup matches in 2026, including four group-stage games and two knockout-round contests. The tournament brought an estimated $109 million in tax revenue to the region and supported about 20,000 jobs, according to Visit Seattle.
Now local soccer officials have another major event in their sights, and FIFA’s latest report offers some encouraging signs.
Lumen Field received a technical evaluation score of 4.1 out of 5. The stadium was praised for its transportation connections, with light rail, buses, ferries, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport helping fans get around.
Seattle also received a perfect 5 out of 5 for hotel accommodations and a 4.5 for potential fan festival sites.
In other words, Seattle knows how to welcome a crowd, and FIFA noticed.
One familiar challenge remains: the playing surface. Lumen Field’s artificial turf would need to be replaced with natural grass for the tournament, just as it was for the 2026 men’s World Cup.
More history could be made
The proposed 2031 tournament would be historic in another way. It is expected to be the first Women’s World Cup featuring 48 teams, expanding from the current 32-team format. The four-country bid projects approximately 4.5 million spectators.
Seattle is one of 14 proposed U.S. host cities, alongside destinations including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York/New Jersey. The bid also includes four stadiums in Mexico and one each in Costa Rica and Jamaica.
But don’t start planning your semifinal tickets just yet.
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Decision timeline
FIFA’s report said the joint bid has met the minimum hosting requirements. The final decision on the 2031 host countries is scheduled for Nov. 23 at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress.
Even if the four-country bid gets the nod, that does not guarantee Seattle will ultimately host matches. FIFA and tournament organizers will still have to finalize the host-city and stadium selections.
Still, Seattle has a compelling case: a proven World Cup venue, strong transportation connections, plenty of hotel capacity, and a passionate soccer community.
The city has already shown the world what it can do.
Now it may get another chance to do it with the world’s best women’s soccer players taking the field at Lumen.
Read more of Katrina Guischard’s stories here.
