Seattle is a city that loves its sports.
Just take in the scarf-toting, jersey-wearing fans on any given game day to see what we mean. Football enthusiasts at Lumen Field set a World Record for loudest crowd roar during a 2013 Seattle Seahawks game. Loyal soccer supporters chant, sing, and cheer throughout Sounders FC and Reign FC matches. Baseball fans love the classic ballpark atmosphere during Seattle Mariners games. Basketball buffs revel in the action as the 4-time WNBA Chamipon-winning Seattle Storm take to the court. And even before they had a single faceoff, fans have embraced the Seattle Kraken, set to join the NHL in 2021. Along with its major professional sports, Seattle also enjoys a variety of collegiate sports at the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University and Washington State University.
FIFA IS COMING TO THE EMERALD CITY!
We are thrilled to welcome the world to Seattle as a host city for these global events
2025
In June and July of 2025, 32 of the world’s leading teams will gather in the US for the inaugural edition of FIFA’s new prime club competition. Among the teams competing is Seattle’s own Sounders FC. Seattle is the confirmed host of all three of the Sounders group stage games where they will face some of the best teams in the world.
| 6/15/25 | Sounders FC v Botafogo | 6/19/25 | Sounders FC v Atlético de Madrid | 6/23/25 | Sounders FC v Paris Saint-Germain |
| 6/17/25 | River Plate v Urawa Red Diamonds | 6/21/25 | Inter Milan v Urawa Red Diamonds | 6/25/25 | River Plate v Inter Milan |
2026
One of the most anticipated events in sports, FIFA Men’s World Cup will be hosted across North America with games in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Seattle is excited to host six matches, including:
| 6/15/26 | Group Stage | 6/24/26 | Group Stage | 7/1/26 | Round of 32 |
| 6/19/26 | USA Group Stage | 6/26/26 | Group Stage | 7/6/26 | Round of 16 |
Upcoming Sporting Events
Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings
12/22/2024
NFL Football: Seattle Seahawks take on Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field.
Details Event WebsiteSTADIUMS & ARENAS IN THE EMERALD CITY
SEATTLE'S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS
Courtesy Seattle Seahawks
NFL | Football
Seattle Seahawks
The only NFL franchise located in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks joined the NFL in 1976, post AFL + NFL merger. The Seahawks have won nine division titles, three conference championships, and have appeared in three Super Bowls. Their first Super Bowl win came in the 2014 NFL season in a 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos. The Seahawks have had three players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Steve Largent, wide receiver inducted in 1995; Cortez Kennedy, defensive tackle inducted in 2012; and Walter Jones, offensive tackle inducted in 2014. Some of the most dedicated fans in football, the devoted and passionate 12s, are Seahawk football enthusiasts. During football season, on Friday’s before a Sunday game, the entire city of Seattle is a sea of blue (known as Blue Friday) in support of our beloved Seahawks.
Seattle Storm
WNBA | Basketball
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm are a mainstay on the local scene bringing the best in women’s professional basketball as a perennial powerhouse of the WNBA. Established in 2000 and backed by an all-female ownership group, the Storm have sixteen playoff appearances under their belt and four championships in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020. The Storm are an unforgettable team to watch at Climate Pledge Arena. Come join the fun and get your tickets to see the Storm in action this season!
Photo: Seattle Mariners
MLB | Baseball
Seattle Mariners
MY, OH MY! Enfranchised in 1977, the Seattle Mariners already have a smattering of milestones to their credit including four Baseball Hall of Fame inductees; Randy Johnson’s 1990 no-hitter, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. playing on the same roster, a 1995 AL West title, 2001’s record setting 116 win season, and Ichiro’s 2004 single season hit record.
The Mariners’ retro-style T-Mobile Park is one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country. It’s also one of only a handful of stadiums with a retractable roof (which can open or close in 10-20 min.), allowing the Mariners a real grass playing field without the worry of getting rained out.
You can come see Kyle Lewis, J.P. Crawford, and Marco Gonzales lead one of the most dynamic young teams in baseball as they battle for the American League West division this season.
Courtesy Seattle Reign FC
NWSL | Soccer
Reign FC
In November of 2012, professional women’s soccer came to Seattle with the creation of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and in January of 2013 the Reign FC played their inaugural match. Immediately, the Reign orchestrated two first place regular season finishes, clinching the NWSL Shield in consecutive seasons (2014 and 2015) and again in 2022. Two of Seattle Reign’s brightest stars, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo, were instrumental in helping the U.S. win gold at both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 FIFA World Cup, and silver at the 2011 FIFA World Cup. Kim Little, named league MVP in her first season with the Reign, earned the league’s Golden Boot award, scoring 16 goals, in the 2014 season, and led the league in assists in the 2015 season with seven. The Reign have had six athletes named Best XI: Jess Fishlock (2013-15), Kim Little (2014-15), Nahomi Kawasumi (2014), Kendall Fletcher (2014), Laura Barnes (2015) and Beverly Yanez (2015).
Courtesy Seattle Sounders FC; Photo: Mike Fiechtner Photography
MLS | Soccer
Seattle Sounders FC
In 2007, Seattle-based entrepreneur Adrian Hanauer, Hollywood executive Joe Roth, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and TV personality Drew Carey won the rights to an MLS expansion team. Thus, Seattle Sounders FC was born.
In the team’s inaugural campaign, Sounders FC offered 22,000 season tickets, all of which were sold out. Since then, Sounders FC has been shattering attendance records. With the highest average attendance in MLS every year from 2009-2016, the Sounders also stack up well on an international level. The club’s 2015 average attendance of 44,257 would rank third in Italy’s Serie A, fourth in Spain’s La Liga and fifth in England’s Premier League. The Sounders won the MLS Cup in 2019, breaking a Lumen Field attendance record with 69,274 fans supporting their team, and took home the trophy as the CONCACAF champions in 2022.
Come join the passionate MLS crowds, and all of their chants, songs and cheering, right here in Seattle at Lumen Field. The Sounders have proved that they are fierce competitors and the fans have continued to come out in droves!
Watching the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena Terumi Pong
NHL | Hockey
Seattle Kraken
As the newest team to the city, the Seattle Kraken have made quite a splash in their inaugural season. Led by head coach Dave Hakstol, the Kraken took the ice for the first time last fall as part of the Pacific Division of the NHL Western Conference. The team plays at Climate Pledge Arena (334 First Ave N), which intends to be the first net-zerocarbon- certified arena in the world, complete with electric Zambonis and a “rain to rink” system to help conserve water. The arena will also host concerts and events in the off-season, and its dining options rise far above typical sports fare, with sustainable selections from some of Seattle’s most popular restaurants.
Photo: Seattle Seawolves
MLR | Rugby
Seattle Seawolves
A founding member of Major League Rugby (MLR), the Seattle Seawolves kicked off their inaugural season in 2018 and claimed the first-ever MLR Championship over Glendale Raptors. In 2019, the Seawolves claimed the second MLR title against San Diego Legion, making them the first back-to-back title holders in MLR history.
The Seawolves are also the second team in US sports history to win the first two championships in their respective league and the only back-to-back champions in Seattle’s professional sports history. In 2022 and 2024 the Seawolves won the Western Conference Championship. In 2024 fans of The Seattle Times voted the Seawolves the Best Sports Team in the PNW. Continuing to be a beacon for Seattle sports, they were also first in the league for media mentions.
SEATTLE'S COLLEGIATE SPORTS TEAMS
University of Washington
The University of Washington, more commonly referred to as U-Dub, is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast and is located in Seattle along the shore of Lake Washington. The university includes 23 collegiate athletic programs, over eight different facilities are dedicated to these programs. The Husky football team has 15 Pac-10 titles, seven Rose Bowl wins and two National Championships to their credit. The school is also host to the myriad of other NCAA athletic disciplines, including basketball, softball, rowing, and volleyball. UW is known around the nation as “the Dawgs”, as a Alaskan malamute is the mascot of the university. As Seattleites would say, “Go Purple, Be Gold” and come out to watch the Dawgs battle at Husky stadium or the Bank of America Hec Edmundson Center.
Seattle University
Seattle University has returned to the NCAA Division I level after a nearly 30-year absence. The Redhawks are already beginning to make a name for themselves at the new level in their first few years back with victories over nationally-known teams in men’s basketball (Oregon State, Virginia, Utah), women’s soccer (Portland), and baseball (Oregon State, Notre Dame, Creighton). Seattle U, member of the Western Athletic Conference boasts a proud history. Between 1953 and 1969, the Seattle University men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times. The program has also won two national championships in men’s soccer and one team national championship in men’s swimming, with two male swimmers winning individual national championships. As a Division I institution, Seattle U fields 19 sports, playing at top-notch facilities both on-campus (Championship Field for soccer) and within the heart of the city (Climate Pledge Arena for basketball). Come out and show your support for the Redhawks as they proudly battle for that next win over a nationally ranked opponent!
Washington State University
Home of the Cougs, Washington State University has strong dedication to sports that often invokes a friendly rivalry with its Pac-12 neighbor University of Washington. The Apple Cup has become one of the most important sporting events in the state, this annual match between the Cougars and the Huskies traditionally takes place on the 3rd Saturday of November. Located in Pullman, WA the Cougs head to Seattle for several matches each year, drawing out the local fans in the signature crimson and grey. This year Washington State Football will play against Oregon at Lumen Field and as always this Pac-12 meeting will be filled with rivalry and heartfelt competition.
Seattle Pacific University
A NCAA Division II institution the SPU Falcons are the host of 14 varsity sports. The Falcons are coming off a year during which they won (or shared in) four Great Northwest Athletic Conference team championships: women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s indoor track and field, and women’s outdoor track and field. SPU also has won the GNAC All-Sports championship twice: 2005-06 and again in 2006-07. The Directors Cup is an all-sports compilation encompassing all members of NCAA Division II – 282 schools altogether. Between 2005-10, SPU had five straight top-30 finishes, and last year was among the upper third of the 234 schools that scored Directors Cup points.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEATTLE LOCALIST
Seattle’s best every month in your inbox
Book Your Trip
Advertisements