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Transportation Tips for the Summer of Soccer

  • Jun 11
  • 9 min read

As gameday excitement rolls in, congestion and closures are expected. Whether you bus, bike, or even boat into the city, plan ahead with these helpful resources.


Transportation

Seattle is one of the only FWC26 host cities with a stadium in the heart of downtown—That means fans can walk, bike, hop on bus, street car or even a ferry to get to the match or fan celebration without ever needing a car.



Seattle Stadium: One of the Most Accessible World Cup Venues in North America

Seattle is one of the few FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities with a stadium in the heart of downtown, allowing fans to walk, bike, or take buses, trains, and ferries to matches.Link Light Rail and Metro Bus drops fans steps from the stadium gates, and the stadium is easily reachable on foot from Downtown, stadium-adjacent neighborhoods like Pioneer Square and the Chinatown International District, or the revitalized Waterfront.Whether you're a local, or a visitor arriving from across the globe, getting to the match is one of the easiest and best parts of the experience — no car required.


Pioneer Square Pedestrian Zone

Designing for Pedestrians in Pioneer Square 

On Men’s World Cup match days, some of the biggest changes you’ll see will be in Seattle’s most well-known neighborhoods.

We’re planning for walkable, people-focused streets in Pioneer Square. This includes temporary changes to streets and more space for pedestrians on match days to create:

  • A pedestrian zone around the stadium designed to keep people safe

  • A better experience for visitors and residents at a scale appropriate for this global event

  • Opportunities to attract customers into local businesses

This means more space to walk, roll, gather, and have fun while still allowing access for people who need it. Bike and scooter share entering the area will be slowed to 8 MPH and valet parking offered. 

 A similar effort will be made at Pike Place Market.

Pioneer Square Match Day Pedestrian Zone

Hours: Street closures will typically begin about 4 hours before match start times and end once the area has been cleaned and can safely be reopened.  No parking restrictions start at 2 AM before each match.  

The map shows the designated pedestrian zone and surrounding transportation features in the Pioneer Square area of Seattle during match days. This pedestrian zone covers the Stadium District and Pioneer Square area, stretching from approximately James Street down to, but not including, Edgar Martinez Drive S, and from, but not including Alaskan Way S to 2nd Ave Ext S, Occidental Ave S, and 4th Ave S.  



One-way southbound traffic allowed

  • 1st Ave S from Columbia St to 90 S Dearborn St

  • 2nd Ave Ext S from S Jackson St to 4th Ave S

Ferry Traffic

  • S Jackson St from Alaskan Way S to 1st Ave S*

  • S King St from Alaskan Way S to 1st Ave S*

* Street remains open to all traffic

Scooter and Bike Share Parking

  • Pier 48

  • S Main St and 1st Ave S

  • 1st Ave S and S King St

Occidental Square northeast corner

  • 2nd Ave S and S Main St

  • 3rd Ave S and S Jackson St

  • S Weller St east of 6th Ave S

  • 4th Ave S and Edgar Martinez Dr S 

Bus stops

  • S Charles St and 1st Ave S

  • Taxi lot

  • Pier 48

Personal Bike Valet

  • Alaskan Way S on the sidewalk south of S Dearborn St, adjacent to Colorado Ave S

Light rail waiting areas

  • Pioneer Square Station (Yesler Way and 2nd Ave S)

  • International District Station (4th Ave S and S Jackson St)

  • Stadium Station (S Royal Brougham Way and 6th Ave S)  

Note that the Occidental Mall streetcar stop is closed during the Ped Zone. Take streetcar at 5th and Jackson.

Getting to Work During the Seattle Summer of Soccer


There’s a big game happening, but you still need to get around! 


Seattle will be hosting World Cup matches, bringing major crowds, street closures, and transit changes. While the city gears up for a global event, employees still need to get to work, school, and daily commitments. 

Planning ahead will make all the difference. We’ve pulled together all the information on how to get around—organized by mode—so you can find out how your commute might be impacted.


Traffic and transit impacts—including bus re-routes and street closures—will begin approximately 6 hours before kickoff on gamedays and last through the evening and into the night. Keep in mind, even on non-match days, there will be more visitor traffic, especially in downtown. 



Where to expect traffic impacts:  

All games will be held at Lumen Field but with an anticipated high-volume of visitors, the transportation impacts will be felt throughout the city. 

If you live or work near the stadium, Pioneer Square, SODO, or International District/Chinatown, be prepared for travel disruptions and plan ahead. 

Learn more about the specific events calendar and pedestrian zone here.


Key Tips for All Commuters:  


  • Expect crowded transit and heavier traffic.

  • Allow extra travel time, practice patience, and be adaptable. If you can, shift what time you commute to avoid busiest traffic.  

  • Consider adjusting your commute mode. If possible, take routes or modes less impacted by traffic or highly limited parking. Check out Flip Your Trip, for great resources on how to get moving in a new mode.  

  • Use agency-specific trip planners and alerts. With many changes to schedules and increased likelihood of delays, Google Maps and OneBusAway, may not be as accurate as usual. Use the alerts and trip planners specific to your mode. 

  • Be ready to pay for your fare with an ORCA card, tap-to-pay credit or debit card, or the TransitGO ticket app. An employer-provided ORCA card makes it easy and affordable to take transit across the region. Learn more about ORCA Business Programs. 


Service Alerts by mode: 

Service disruptions happen. Stay informed by subscribing to real-time service alerts:




What you need to know by mode: 


Boat: Water Taxi, Washington State Ferry, Kitsap Fast Ferry

Ferries and water taxi riders should expect longer wait times and busier boats. Arrive early for your planned sailing.  

Additional service: 

  •  Kitsap Fast Ferry and King County Water Taxi will have late night service and additional sailings on game days. Washington State Ferries will operate on a standard summer schedule but will have additional staffing and standby vessels ready to handle higher ridership. If you usually drive onto the Washington State Ferry, try walking on.

Alerts:  

  • Stay up-to-date on sailing information. Subscribe to Kitsap Fast Ferry Alerts here. Subscribe to Washington State Ferry Alerts here. 


Bike and Scooter

Hop on your bike or try a bike or scooter share to sail by traffic. Be aware! There will be no-ride zones and restrictions to bikes on transit during match day. Check for changes before you roll out.  

Access and device parking 

  • No bikes or scooters will be allowed onboard Link Light Rail on match days. 

  • Biking to light rail? Safely store your bike in BikeLink lockers at select light rail stations and other key destinations. Check real-time locker availability using the BikeLink locker app. 

  • On match days, Cascade will provide free bike valet service at the Downtown Redmond and Rainier Beach light rail stations. 

  • SDOT has created a pedestrian-only zone around the stadiums. You can bike through the zone, but there will be speed restrictions, and you should expect heavy foot traffic nearby.  

  • Expect slow-riding zones and designated parking zones for bike and scooter share in Pioneer Square, near stadiums, and Pike Place Market.  

Rewards and incentives 


Bus: King County Metro, Sound Transit Express

Buses will be running with increased service, but expect crowding, detours near the stadiums, and some route adjustments due to planned street closures. Plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Route changes will be updated in Google Maps, but be sure to sign up for King County Metro alerts for the most up-to-date information. Check out King County Metro’s summer of soccer guide here.  

Routing and additional service 

  • Select bus routes will be rerouted or through-routed near the stadiums. Is your route impacted? Check King County Metro’s map to see event day schedules and consider alternative routes to avoid congestion.  

  • King County Metro plans to add 60 buses on match days and 30 to 40 additional buses on non-match days during the tournament. There will be increased weekday service on Metro Routes 70, 101, 150, 40 throughout the whole World Cup calendar (June 15-July 6). 

  • Additional late-night service will be available after matches. Extra service will support travel north, south, and east on Metro Route 150, RapidRide D and E lines, and Sound Transit Routes 545, 550, and 554.  

  • There will be increased capacity for on-demand Metro Flex in Tukwila Renton, Ranier Beach/Skyway, and Othello throughout the whole World Cup Calendar (June 15-July 6). 

Free shuttles 

  • King County Metro is operating a free shuttle on Match Days. The shuttle will connect fans from the stadium to the Seattle Center with stops along Third Ave. The shuttle will operate for 8 hours starting three hours before kickoff with shuttles every 3-7 minutes. View the map. 

  • Metro will also operate a free Waterfront Shuttle along Alaskan Way between King Street Center and the Seattle Center. This shuttle will run all summer long from May 21 to September 7, 2026. 

  • Expect to pay regular fare on all other transit, including non-shuttle buses.

How to ride 

  • All-door boarding is encouraged. Use your ORCA card or tap-to-pay credit/debit card and board through any door to speed things up.  

Alerts 

  • Sign up for King County Metro Alerts here.  


Rail: Link Light Rail, Sounder, Streetcar

Rail is an efficient and popular mode. Expect record-setting crowds on match days and limited parking at park-and-rides. Check out Sound Transit’s summer of soccer guide here.  

Link Light Rail: 

Routing and additional service 

  • Sound Transit will increase service on its light rail lines, running trains every four minutes through Downtown Seattle using both the 1 and 2 lines.  

  • Check out Sound Transit’s recommendations for which station to board on match days to limit station crowding.  

  • Sound Transit will use a queue system at busy stations on match days. It will not feel like a typical commute day. You may have to wait in line to get on a train. 

  • For people with reduced mobility, there will be priority boarding indicated by decals at Westlake, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, and Stadium stations. Learn more about accessible travel on Link Light Rail here.

Alerts 

Park-and-ride 

  • Reserved Park & Ride spaces began on May 1st. Lots will fill up even more quickly than usual. Plan to take transit, bike, or carpool to a station if you typically drive.  

Sounder: 

  • Additional trains and schedule adjustments will be in place for match days, with departures timed to arrive before kickoff and return trips scheduled up to approximately an hour after matches conclude.  

  • The Rail Plus program is suspended until July 13. 

  • Regular commuters should double-check schedules here.  

Streetcar: 

  • First Hill Line: The Occidental Mall stop will be closed on match days. The line will terminate at 5th & Jackson.  

  • South Lake Union Line: No changes expected. 


Car: Driving and Rideshare

Driving will be challenging due to congestion, closures, limited parking, and increased traffic. If you must drive, buddy up to access HOV parking and lanes, stay up-to-date on traffic impacts, and plan plenty of time.  

Construction and street closures 

  • Revive I-5 – All lanes of I-5 will be open June 8 – July 10.  Express lanes will operate normally. During the weekends of June 5 – 8 and July 10 – 13, northbound I-5 will be fully closed from I-90 to NE 45th Street for work zone break-down and set-up. 

  • Pedestrian zones and street closures near the stadium and downtown watch parties will impact driving on match days.  

High congestion areas 

  • Anticipate congested corridors near the practice fields located at Seattle University and University of Washington.  

  • Increased traffic is expected on I-5 between Seattle and Vancouver on the days which they have back-to-back games.  

Ride-hailing 

  • Taxis, Uber, and Lyft will have specific areas and restrictions on when and where they can drop off near the stadiums. This means that if you work in the Pioneer Square, SODO, or International District, expect changes to pick-up and drop-off for ride-hailing services.   


Information is subject to change. Last updated 6/3/2026.




 
 
 

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