Lumen Field to get multimillion-dollar World Cup makeover. Here's what to expect.

Lumen Field will undergo a $19.4 million makeover ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The sum accounts for over 40% of the $46.6 million state lawmakers this year set aside for World Cup preparations in the transportation, capital and operating budgets.

Zach Hensley, general manager of Lumen Field, said the stadium is using its share to get the field ready to meet the standards of FIFA, the international soccer governing body. The funding was allocated to the Washington State Public Stadium Authority, which owns the stadium.

“It was certainly of the utmost importance to secure this funding so we could meet all of FIFA’s requirements to be ready to be able to host the 2026 World Cup,” Hensley said. "There’s some very large components of that.”

The largest upgrade will be replacing the artificial turf with stitched natural grass, or natural grass injected with synthetic fibers to make the field more stable. The grass will require new irrigation, vacuum ventilation and grow lights. Hensley said that work will begin after the upcoming NFL season, which ends in early 2026.

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