USWNT gets sneak peek at World Cup grass at Lumen Field

The women's national team plays Japan on the newly installed hybrid grass ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a women's soccer match, with sharp planes of green grass, blue sky, and white uniforms, conveying the energy and anticipation of the USWNT's match on the new World Cup field.The USWNT's preview of the World Cup-ready grass at Lumen Field showcases the team's skill and the stadium's transformation for the global tournament.Seattle Today

The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) is getting an early look at the grass that has been laid down at Lumen Field in Seattle for this summer's World Cup. The USWNT will play a match against Japan on the new hybrid grass field, which is a mix of real grass woven with artificial fibers. This will be the first time the women's team has played at Lumen Field since 2017 due to the previous artificial turf.

Why it matters

The 2022 collective bargaining agreement between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer gave the women's team equal pay to their male counterparts and also required that they play only on suitable grass fields. This match at Lumen Field is an opportunity for the USWNT to preview the playing conditions they will face at the World Cup, which has strict requirements for the fields of play.

The details

The work to install the new grass field at Lumen Field began last month, with a drainage system and nearly a foot of sand laid down before the sod was put in place. The grass and underlying structure will be removed after the World Cup. Lumen Field is home to the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, MLS' Seattle Sounders, and the NWSL's OL Reign. The Sounders and Reign have been displaced during the installation, playing some matches in Spokane.

  • The USWNT plays Japan on the new grass field on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
  • The grass installation at Lumen Field began in earnest last month.
  • Seattle is set to host six World Cup matches starting in June 2026, four in the group stage and two in the knockout round.

The players

Emma Hayes

The head coach of the United States women's national soccer team.

Megan Rapinoe

A former player for the Seattle Reign of the NWSL, who had her retirement match at Lumen Field in 2023.

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What they’re saying

“It definitely was one of my aims. I really wanted the opportunity and quite rightly the CBA, we want to be playing on grass fields. So that prohibited that from happening and this opportunity gives us the chance to do that.”

— Emma Hayes, Head Coach, United States Women's National Soccer Team

“I'm so happy to grab it with both hands and for us to have a record attendance for a women's game in this area.”

— Emma Hayes, Head Coach, United States Women's National Soccer Team

What’s next

The Sounders will play their first match on the new grass field at Lumen Field on Wednesday when they host Mexican club Tigres in the second leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal.

The takeaway

The USWNT's match on the new World Cup-ready grass field at Lumen Field is an important milestone in the team's preparation for this summer's World Cup, as well as a significant moment for women's soccer in the Pacific Northwest where the sport has a strong following.