FIFA has announced that the Seattle Sounders will have somewhat of a home-field advantage at Lumen Field for the 2025 Club World Cup. The Major League Soccer side previously qualified for the controversial tournament by winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Seattle is currently the only American team to book a place in the competition, but this is expected to soon change.
Three other CONCACAF clubs, all from Mexico, will also feature at the upcoming Club World Cup as well. Monterrey, Leon, and Pachuca all qualified thanks to similar Champions Cup triumphs as Seattle. Nevertheless, as hosts, the United States has another club at the tournament. Inter Miami is likely the final American team, but FIFA has not confirmed the move yet.
Sounders will play all of their Club World Cup group games at Lumen Field
As the current marquee American club in the competition, FIFA has rewarded Seattle with multiple home games. The governing body announced on Tuesday that all three of the club’s group-stage matches will be at Lumen Field. Seattle could then also play again at their home arena if they progress to the knockout stage.
“Six games of the FIFA Club World Cup will take place in this stadium, and the three games of the group stage of the Seattle Sounders will take place here,” proclaimed FIFA president Gianni Infantino while posing inside Lumen Field.
“So, we want to hear some noise, and the World Cup [noise record] being broken in this stadium by the Seattle Sounders fans during the FIFA Club World Cup next year.”
Seattle regularly features near the top of the annual MLS attendance figures. The Sounders averaged the third-most fans in stands among all teams in the division in each of the last two seasons. Lumen Field has a general max capacity of just under 38,000 fans during MLS matches. The arena, however, can accommodate up to 72,000 people in the stands for other events.
Seattle’s stadium currently features artificial turf….
Author : Chris Moore
Publish date : 2024-10-15 21:23:33
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The post FIFA reveals plan for Club World Cup at Seattle’s Lumen Field first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
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Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2024-10-15 23:14:47
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