Seattle Clubs Launch 104-Match World Cup Festival on Floating Pitch
Updated
Updated · FOX 13 Seattle · May 13
Seattle Clubs Launch 104-Match World Cup Festival on Floating Pitch
8 articles · Updated · FOX 13 Seattle · May 13
Seattle Sounders FC and Reign FC said the World Cup 2026 fan zone will center on a custom soccer pitch built atop a maritime vessel off Pier 62 at Waterfront Park.
Free public programming onshore will include live match viewings, youth soccer activities and cultural entertainment, while the barge itself will operate as a ticketed private rental space.
Organizers project attendance in the hundreds of thousands and tied the installation to RAVE Foundation's 52 Fields initiative, calling the floating venue a symbolic final field for statewide youth access efforts.
The festival is meant to showcase Seattle's 20-acre reconnected waterfront during the 104-match tournament, though daily schedules and additional corporate partners have not yet been announced.
Will Seattle’s dazzling floating pitch deliver an economic boom, or will taxpayers be left with the bill after the party?
Seattle’s pitch promises community joy, but will it be a truly public space or an exclusive VIP playground?
Seattle’s 52nd Field: The Floating Pitch Transforming Elliott Bay for FIFA World Cup 2026
Overview
Seattle is preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with the "Seattle Soccer Celebration powered by Lenovo," featuring a groundbreaking floating soccer pitch on Elliott Bay near Pier 62. This innovative installation will transform the waterfront into a vibrant hub for fans, serving as an official free celebration site. The floating pitch leverages Seattle’s stunning natural backdrop, allowing broadcasters to showcase the city’s skyline and waterfront to a global audience, many of whom will be experiencing Seattle for the first time. This unique project highlights Seattle’s creativity and aims to create a memorable World Cup experience for all visitors.