Seattle is one of the only host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stadium in the heart of downtown. While that gives soccer fans a wide range of options
Seattle is expected to draw around 750,000 visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches and associated events. Seattle is one of the only host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stadium in the heart of downtown.
While that gives soccer fans a wide range of options to get to a match or join a celebration, it also requires intensive planning to meet the varying transportation needs. Sound Transit, King County Metro, the Washington State Department of Transportation , and the Seattle Department of Transportation laid out how each of their agencies is preparing for the upcoming competition during presentations on Thursday before the Seattle City Council's Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee.The overarching goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming atmosphere for visitors while limiting traffic impacts to the shortest time period possible for those not participating in the FIFA events. Adding to the challenge is that the international match-ups are scheduled to take place on weekdays while people are trying to get to their jobs. Extensive street closures will be in effect around the Stadium District on game days, beginning four hours before kick-off and extending two to three hours post-game. That will help accommodate the intense pedestrian traffic that is anticipated, as many as 750,000 visitors try to navigate downtown on foot. King County Metro plans to add more service during the four weeks of the World Cup. On match days, an additional 60 buses will be in operation, scaling back to an extra 30 buses on non-match days. There will also be a Waterfront service available. Sound Transit will add more trains and expects to transport up to 2,800 riders per hour. The added capacity will extend from three hours before a match begins and continue until three hours after the match. Service from the eastside will also be available when the Crosslake Connection opens on March 28th.Both systems will now allow payment to be made by tapping a debit or credit card, in addition to the standard ORCA cards that have been used to cover fares. Sound Transit will also introduce a three-day visitor pass available through an ORCA card. WSDOT will tear down its Revive I-5 construction zone on the Ship Canal Bridge and alternate the express lanes between north- and southbound directions depending on the time of day.To help in these transit efforts, just this week Congress allocated money $8.4 million for transit service, which is on top of $9 million already promised last year by the state.After more than two decades on Seattle television, KOMO news anchor Mary Nam has announced her departure at the end of the month.Police arrested a man covered in blood, suspected of going on a destructive spree at several auto sales businesses in South Tacoma early Thursday.Prosecutors have charged 33 people with criminal trespass related to the occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at UW last year.After an investigation that lasted two years, records showing what happened during a police shootout in Pierce County in 2023 have been released.State lawmakers are set to take up as a proposal that would raise taxes on cigarettes and vaping products moves to the House after clearing the Senate.
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