Movement off the ball is key to World Cup 2026 success

Many people around the globe, or at least a significant portion of them, will turn their attention to the Pacific Northwest of North America during the 2026 men's Fifa World Cup soccer tournament.

Seattle is selected as one of the 16 cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico to host the World Cup games in July and August of 2026. The schedule for the matches has not been released yet, but Seattle will host six total games at Lumen Field. This includes four games in the group stages and two games in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

In addition to the host city of Seattle, games will also be held in ten more cities in the United States, as well as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey in Mexico. Toronto will be hosting games for the first time, with Vancouver hosting five group stage matches and two knockout-round games just across the border from Seattle.

Approximately four billion individuals are expected to tune in, a television viewership six times greater than that of the Super Bowl. The competition is unique in its ability to capture the interest of a large number of individuals who are not typically sports fans, lasting for five weeks. It provides cities with an opportunity to promote themselves on a global scale, but for transportation authorities, it poses some puzzling challenges as urban populations increase with eager fans wanting to witness the excitement in person.

In Seattle, a large number of people are projected to visit the city during the games, with estimates ranging from 400,000 to 750,000. April Putney, who serves as the chief strategy officer at Seattle Fifa World Cup 2026 (Seattle FWC2026), mentioned that this will bring significant challenges in efficiently transporting people throughout the city.

Putney mentioned during a panel at the 91st IBTTA Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Seattle that if everything goes smoothly, there will be a dedicated app for navigating the city. In addition to offering guidance on activities, the app will also assist users in getting around for shopping and exploring.

Through a partnership with the Seattle International Soccer Local Organising Committee, the city has agreed to allow temporary access to certain public spaces like parks and streets. Seattle will also assist with organizing transportation and infrastructure to ensure a successful World Cup event.

Challenges For Transit With Urban Growth In World Cup 2026

Putney emphasized that working together closely among regional transportation authorities, particularly in enhancing high-speed rail systems, could greatly enhance the transportation experience for individuals in the summer of 2026.

A lot of soccer fans don't own cars, so they will need to use public transportation. Additionally, some fans may not understand English well, so they will require simple and clear directions to get to the game.

People who use taxis and ride-hail services often face a problem with traffic apps that guide drivers. These apps can sometimes send drivers down smaller roads, causing traffic jams. Roland Behee, who works for the public agency Community Transit in Snohomish County, says that future transport apps need to give users better information about route changes and detours in real-time. Snohomish County is the third-most populated county in Washington, after King and Pierce counties.

The applications need to be created so they can connect with other tools in order to make sure they will still be useful in the future. It's crucial that they are able to support the increasing demand for immediate transportation services, similar to Uber. This will become even more crucial during events like the World Cup, as international travelers will expect to have quick access to transportation options.

The competition will start for Seattle and the other cities long before the first game starts.