As the 2026 Men’s World Cup draws near, the impact of this highly anticipated international tournament is being felt across the landscape of American soccer, particularly within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Seattle Reign, a prominent club in the league, finds itself amidst these changes and challenges.
In January, the team publicly shared news that it would host three of its home matches in Spokane, Washington. This decision was made to accommodate the construction of a grass surface at Seattle’s Lumen Field, which is not only the Reign’s home base but also one of the chosen venues for the World Cup.
The matches are scheduled for March 25, March 28, and April 4, taking place at ONE Spokane Stadium, which serves as the home ground for both the USL Super League team Spokane Zephyr and the USL League One side Spokane Velocity.
The announcement took many supporters by surprise, as it highlighted the extent of modifications necessitated by the preparation for the World Cup. While specifics were not initially clear, conversations about making arrangements have been ongoing behind the scenes for quite some time.
Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, the Chief Business Officer of the Reign, discussed the complexities involved in relocating the team for these matches. In an interview with The Equalizer, she expressed that navigating this transition presents both challenges and unique opportunities. “Experiencing the atmosphere in Spokane when the Zephyr and the Velocity play is something special; it creates a vibrant and intense environment, which we hope to leverage to our advantage,” she stated. “We aim to establish a strong sense of home in Spokane during our extended absence from Seattle.”
