Public Transit Systems Respond to Record Demand During FIFA World Cup 2026

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 passes its halfway point, public transit agencies in 11 United States host cities are playing a central role in facilitating the movement of millions of spectators, visitors, and local residents. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), more than 26 public transit agencies have spent two years preparing for the event, implementing expanded service, enhanced security, new technology, and extensive operational planning to manage unprecedented visitor volumes while maintaining regular operations for local commuters.

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas stated that, by the tournament's third week, public transit agencies have moved millions of fans safely and efficiently. Skoutelas noted that these agencies are setting ridership records and delivering positive customer experiences, reflecting both the impact of years of planning and the benefit of decades of federal investment in transit infrastructure. He emphasized that the results "speak for themselves," as agencies have succeeded in serving both event attendees and everyday riders.

Federal support has played a role in enabling these efforts. Congress and the Administration provided $100 million in federal funding specifically to support World Cup-related public transportation services. This funding has allowed transit agencies to expand service and maintain operational resources throughout the tournament, benefitting both visitors and local populations.

Several host cities have reported record ridership and strong operational performance. In Seattle, Sound Transit's Link light rail system logged its busiest day in agency history on June 19, carrying an estimated 280,000 riders for the USA-Australia match. This figure surpassed the previous record of 220,000, set during the Seahawks' Super Bowl parade. The system also recorded its third-busiest day, with approximately 210,000 boardings, on June 15 for the tournament's opening Seattle match.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in coordination with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Caltrain, managed the transportation of 37,642 fans to and from the opening World Cup match at Levi's Stadium on June 13, exceeding demand recorded during Super Bowl LX by 6,000. On June 16, VTA carried more than 39,500 passengers for the Austria-Jordan match, while BART’s Milpitas station saw ridership increase by over 160 percent compared to the previous weekend.

Kansas City's KC Streetcar carried 196,284 passengers between June 11 and June 17, averaging 28,041 daily riders. The system set a single-day ridership record of over 39,000 trips on June 16, coinciding with the Argentina-Algeria match at Arrowhead Stadium.

In Atlanta, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) reported moving approximately 1.7 million people to four World Cup matches, nine FIFA Fan Festivals, and other related events since June 11. MARTA’s busiest day was June 24, when the Morocco-Haiti match drew an estimated 220,000 rail riders, about 2.3 times higher than a typical weekday. MARTA deployed Transit Ambassadors for nearly 4,000 shifts to assist customers system-wide during the tournament.

Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Broad Street Line is averaging about 31,000 riders per match to and from Lincoln Financial Field. The system has expanded capacity to move roughly 15,000 people per hour. SEPTA's Flash bus service for visitors recorded an 800 percent increase in ridership during the tournament, marking its largest jump since 2015.

Los Angeles Metro reported a 598 percent increase in rider taps at the Expo Park/USC Metro E Line Station on a World Cup match day compared to an average Friday, indicating a significant rise in the use of public transit to reach tournament venues.

Other cities, including Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, New York/New Jersey, and Miami, have also expanded transit services, deployed thousands of additional staff and ambassadors, improved wayfinding and customer assistance programs, and introduced new fare payment options to accommodate international visitors.

Transit agencies have faced the dual challenge of serving both the surge in visitors and maintaining service for regular riders. According to APTA, the current World Cup demonstrates the importance of sustained federal investment in public transportation and passenger rail, not only for major global events but also for the millions who rely on these services daily.

With the tournament entering its knockout rounds and three weeks of competition remaining, transit agencies are continuing preparations for even larger crowds. Skoutelas remarked that the performance of the Nation's transit systems during the World Cup may influence ongoing Congressional discussions about surface transportation funding and the future of transit investment. He suggested that the real-time demonstration of system capacity and flexibility could inform policy decisions beyond the scope of the tournament itself.

The operational experience and data gathered from this event are expected to be analyzed by transportation planners and policymakers, potentially informing best practices and infrastructure development for future large-scale events in North America and globally.