SEATTLE – Seattle, Washington, is steeped in soccer culture. From the formative days of the original Seattle Sounders clashing with Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps in the NASL heyday of yesteryear, to the modern rise of the top-flight Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, the sport has long been woven into the community’s ethos. Toss in just a few of the other organizations scattered throughout the city—the defending NCAA champion University of Washington men’s soccer team, recent USL League Two champions Ballard FC and the indoor Tacoma Stars, just to name a few—and it’s clear that soccer dominates the city’s identity.
No one knows that better than Seattle Sounders legend Cristian Roldan, who returns to the Emerald City donning the Stars and Stripes of the U.S. Men’s National Team in preparation for a massive test against Australia. The USMNT will face Australia in its second FIFA World Cup 2026 contest at Seattle Stadium on Friday.
“The soccer culture goes back a long time here in Seattle,” USMNT midfielder Cristian Roldan explained. “We had Pelé in the Tacoma Dome, Messi in the Leagues Cup Final. There's a long history here, as well as with Vancouver and Portland. The soccer landscape is amazing.
“I haven't seen a city where kids play so much soccer. It's incredible how many kids are playing soccer here. When you look at our roster here at [Seattle Sounders], it's all homegrown kids who grew up here and watched Seattle throughout its history. It is ingrained in our culture, and it's a beautiful thing to see.”
Raised in Pico Rivera, Calif., Roldan traded the sun-drenched scenes of Southern California for the rain-soaked backdrop of Seattle at the start of his playing career.