USWNT christens Lumen Field's World Cup grass with a rainy return to Seattle
Though the U.S. lost to Japan on Tuesday, the grass picked up a win after withstanding the first of many games on the newly installed hybrid surface.
SEATTLE — On Tuesday, the grass at Lumen Field withstood its first real test: the rain. The U. S.
women’s national team became the first players to christen the newly installed grass, returning to Seattle with a 1-0 loss to Japan . But a persistent downpour that lasted all day Tuesday served as an early trial for the surface, which was installed last month in preparation for the 2026 World Cup . It’s been a decade since either U.
S. national team has played at Lumen Field as a result of the turf, so the switch opened up an opportunity for the USWNT to return to the Pacific Northwest. Over 36,000 fans made their way to Lumen Field, braving the rain in a sea of raincoats and ponchos — they’re used to this, after all — to watch the USWNT play on the brand-new surface.
Overall, the grass, made up of real grass woven with artificial fibers, appeared to hold — a positive sign, given the complexity of the installation to make the stadium World Cup-ready in June. Lumen Field's new hybrid grass surface, installed ahead of the 2026 World Cup, got its first real test Tuesday during the USWNT's 1-0 loss to Japan. Soobum Im/USSF via Getty Images Postgame, the USWNT players praised the grass, even with the nasty weather.
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