Expect raucous Seattle crowd to give USMNT extra boost vs. Aussies

SEATTLE — Lumen Field is one of the loudest stadiums on the planet. Seattle is arguably the most soccer-mad city in the country.

And it’s about to host the biggest game in its history, the U.S. national team taking on Australia Friday with first place in World Cup Group D at stake.

“Yeah, I fully expect this crowd to be extremely loud, and they’re going to energize our group. This is one of the loudest stadiums in the world, when you think about Seahawks or Sounders games,” Cristian Roldan said. “I fully expect the city of Seattle to come out and show out. The guys are going to feel that type of energy.

“The soccer culture goes back a long time here in the city of Seattle. … There’s a long, long history here, as well as Vancouver and Portland. So, digging into that, the soccer landscape is amazing. … It means a lot to play soccer here. And I’m excited for the world to see what the city is all about.”

Roldan starred at the University of Washington, where the U.S. practiced Thursday, and plays for the Seattle Sounders, who often have MLS’ biggest and loudest crowds.

But the city’s love affair with soccer runs far deeper and older than even MLS, back to the Sounders’ NASL days. And Lumen’s status as a sonic weapon predates its use in fútbol to football tenant Seahawks.

“I heard so, I heard so. I’ve never played here. I hope it’s gonna be loud,” Sergiño Dest said. “That also scares the opponent a little bit and it helps us, gives us an extra boost. So it’s gonna be a great game.”

Lumen Field is one of the world’s loudest venues — it used to be the loudest, actually.

That’s partly because of passionate energy — which there will be plenty of Friday cheering for the U.S. — and partly due to planned engineering.

With a unique, acoustic-trapping architectural roof, Lumen Field actually had the Guinness Record before Kansas City broke it, reaching 137.6 decibels — roughly comparable to a jet engine — and famously triggered localized seismic activity known as “Beast Quake” during big Seahawks plays.

The extensive use of concrete and aluminum seats makes sound reverberate and amplify throughout the bowl. The compact footprint puts fans close to the field. And 70 percent of the seats are covered by big, curved metal canopies, acting as parabolic sound mirrors that bounce noise straight onto the field.

It’s an acoustic attack the U.S. and its fans will weaponize against the Aussies.

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“Roldan has always told me this fanbase has been amazing,” Weston McKennie said. “It’s a huge fan base here. I’m excited to see what it’s like. I’ve never been here with the national team before. Hopefully it’s similar to SoFi or better.

“Even before the last game, hearing the fans and the national anthem and people singing along, it gives you goose bumps. Then you’re like, ‘oh s–t, it’s time to go.’ You’re fired up because you know you have people behind you. … It’s an amazing feeling. Boost of confidence. Whenever you’re tired and you hear them going, cheering higher whenever someone makes a tackle, it’s an adrenaline rush.”

The cheering will be high. The U.S. hopes the adrenaline will as well.