SEATTLE — This summer has been one of the most eventful in Seattle sports history.

Just months after the Seattle Seahawks won their second Super Bowl in franchise history, the team's home of Lumen Field (or "Seattle Stadium" as it's currently known for the summer) has played host for several 2026 World Cup matches.

One match Seattle has hosted next door to the Seattle Mariners' home stadium of T-Mobile Park featured the U.S. men's national team, which is in the midst of its best run in the World Cup since it made it the quarterfinals in the 2002 event.

At Seattle Stadium, the U.S. beat Australia 2-0 in the group stage June 19.

The USMNT will return to the Pacific Northwest for a Round of 16 match against Belgium on July 6. If the U.S. prevails, it will match the team's best all-time finish in the World Cup in the modern era.

The Mariners will be on the road for the team's match, which is expected to leave public transit in the Emerald City packed for the duration of the day.

However, just because the M's won't be in town to celebrate a potential U.S. win does not mean it isn't taking part in the festivities with its stateside representatives before they play next door.

Seattle hosted the entire U.S. team before Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Head men's soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino threw out the first pitch before the game. 

"It's gonna be exciting," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said in a pregame interview Friday. "This has been an incredible Sunday already for Seattle to have hosted an event like this. I haven't been down there, but I've heard a lot of reports about the waterfront and how many people have been down there. I think this has been an incredible event for the city and they've done a great job. To have the USA team here earlier and now to have them back, I think is pretty cool.

"And (it's) a chance to meet some of these guys and the fans (have) a chance to show their appreciation for the job that they've done. Obviously this is a global event that has been followed all over the world. It's exciting. It brings a lot of people together. It's brought a lot of people to Seattle. I'm really excited to get a chance to meet some of these guys."

Former University of Washington and current Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan is a member of the USMNT. He came out to a loud ovation and T-Mobile Park and carried the Mariners' home run trident in his introduction.

The M's are no stranger to having players take part in a global tournament like the World Cup. In this past spring's World Baseball Classic, the team had several players compete for their respective countries, including left-handed reliever Gabe Speier and catcher Cal Raleigh, who played for the U.S.

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