The 2026 World Cup has kicked off, and cities across the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico, are being put to the test as they seek to smoothly move tens of thousands of domestic and international fans to and from stadium matches. As part of the host city selection process, FIFA required local governments and transit agencies to commit to providing robust public transportation services on matchdays to limit roadway congestion and provide visiting fans an easy way to get around. For some cities with downtown, transit-accessible stadiums or existing commuter rail connections between suburban stadiums and the urban core, this task required simply increasing operations and making necessary crowd management preparations. For other cities, transit systems needed significant overhauls – whether temporary or permanent – to provide foreign visitors transit experiences of a comparable quality to that which they’ve experienced abroad. 

Megaevent experts and transportation advocates have long characterized international athletic competitions like the World Cup and Olympics not only as short-term tests for urban mobility systems, but also as long-term opportunities for cities to leave a lasting transit legacy. From Qatar building a brand new metro system connecting all eight of its stadiums prior to the most recent World Cup, to Atlanta expanding its rail network by seven miles in preparation for the 1996 Olympics, host cities and countries have historically seized on the immediate need for service during global games to mobilize political and financial support behind investments in transit. When dedicated to capital projects that go beyond stadium service to link local communities, these transit investments can benefit area residents and spur urban economic development for generations to come.  

American host cities have not received financial support from FIFA for transportation operations or capital improvements, instead relying on state and local budgetary aid and farebox revenue – in some cases, with premium ticket prices meant to offset World Cup related costs. The Federal Transit Administration has distributed $100 million in public transportation support for host cities through formula funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. However, with these funds divided among eleven metropolitan areas and announced only in March of this year, the impact of these late-stage federal investments appears limited.  

U.S. host cities have varied widely in their approaches toward World Cup transit projects, ranging from short-term deployment of chartered service to accelerated completion of transformative citywide capital projects. This article surveys various strategies the eleven U.S. host cities have adopted for investing in transit infrastructure in preparation for the World Cup and how they have capitalized on the international athletic spotlight to leave long-term impacts on regional transportation systems. 

Infrastructure Acceleration 

Although FIFA selected the joint North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup in 2018, the selection of specific American host cities didn’t occur until 2022. The relatively short turnaround of four years between the host city selection and the tournament’s kickoff in 2026 limited cities’ abilities to roll out plans for brand-new physical infrastructure systems in time for the event. However, stakeholders across the country have identified the World Cup as a useful motivating force in committing agencies to getting previously planned major projects across the finish line before the arrival of international fans. 

In Seattle, Sound Transit employed the World Cup as a hard deadline for the opening of the long-awaited Link light rail Crosslake Connection. This ambitious project promised to connect two previously separate lines – one serving the city proper, the other serving dense suburbs east of Lake Washington – through use of an innovative floating light rail bridge able to transport riders directly across the water. As integration of the two lines would allow suburban residents east of the lake to reach the downtown, transit-accessible Lumen Field without driving their car into the city proper, its completion was a top priority in advance of the soccer megaevent. Stakeholders have claimed that the World Cup served as a key motivating factor and ultimate deadline for the project, already three years delayed from its initial expected completion. With the pressure of the approaching sports megaevent, Sound Transit was able to open Crosslake Connection just over two months in advance of the tournament. This expanded service has turned Sound Transit into the mode of choice promoted by event organizers and utilized by large swaths fans. 

While the Kansas City Streetcar doesn’t directly serve Arrowhead stadium, its system expansion was similarly prioritized to increase urban mobility for visiting fans. As the free-to-ride system continues to grow, the latest phase of its expansion was deliberately timed to open in advance of the World Cup. The streetcar route, now lengthened by 1.2 additional miles, promises to connect more riders to local bus services headed toward the stadium. Additionally, it provides direct access to the city’s Fan Fest activities and provides international fans with car-free mobility in what has traditionally been a heavily car-dependent metro area.  

In Atlanta, MARTA has focused on reimagining and expanding bus services to meet World Cup needs and long-term community interests. The city rolled out its NextGen Bus Network in April, consolidating the number of routes but expanding the number of residents within walkable distance of a bus station, with the intention of familiarizing residents and operators with the modernized system design before the pressure of World Cup crowds. Additionally, MARTA prioritized progress on its nascent bus rapid transit system, which incorporates dedicated lanes, level boarding platforms, pre-boarding payment, signal prioritization, and a new, articulated bus fleet. While the entirety of the Rapid A line is not yet complete, the agency ensured that core parts of the route were open by launching completed segments in April as part of the project’s first phase. Even with some operating stops still under construction, MARTA took initiative in getting the project launched prior to the arrival of international fans. 

Beyond traditional public transit, cities have also invested in physical infrastructure to support other modes of alternative transportation. Most notably, Houston used the World Cup to spur municipal, private sector, and non-profit investment into the city’s newly designated Green Corridor. The project connects four miles of “hike-and-bike” trail, enhanced with new water fountains, cooling areas, bicycle amenities, and green innovation outdoor exhibits, with a larger loop of METRORail lines encircling downtown. The city has mobilized a variety of stakeholders, including universities and corporate sponsors, to take a visible role in World Cup preparations by financing improvement projects along the trail. Other cities, including Atlanta, have leveraged municipal bonds in the run-up to the competition to fund improvements to sidewalks, pedestrian infrastructure, and roadways. 

Scaled Back Ambitions 

While the World Cup has provided a sense of urgency to accelerate many project delivery timelines, unavoidable delays, issues, and changed plans have pushed back some projects and refigured prioritization of limited local and transit agency resources. 

Though Atlanta was successfully able to reinvigorate its bus network prior to the city’s opening matches, its planned launch of 254 modernized railcars was pushed back due to delays in receiving state certification. MARTA had previously committed to deploying new rolling stock to improve capacity and customer experience prior to the matches, and stakeholders expressed dismay at delays meaning their investments would miss out on the World Cup. Though certification delays have limited the immediate effects that MARTA’s improvements will have on visitors attending the World Cup, the efforts to expedite this project delivery will still result in tangible benefits for regional commuters who will enjoy enhanced service for years to come.  

In other cases, project proposals have been retooled and permanently scaled back as agencies have sought to ensure on-time delivery over long-term system upgrades. Most notably, New Jersey Transit initially announced an ambitious Transitway project to provide additional gameday capacity between Secaucus Junction, the gateway for regional rail in and out of New York City, with MetLife Stadium. Plans originally called for dedicated bus lanes, repurposed right of way from abandoned rail tracks, signal prioritization, and construction of a permanent high-capacity bus terminal outside the stadium. However, investment in a permanent bus terminal was cancelled in favor of a more expedient temporary facility, and most physical infrastructure changes have been pushed back to a later project phase meant to connect the system with nearby Jersey City. NJ Transit has recently stated that the project’s first phase is still moving ahead as planned; however, with early games receiving lower than expected ridership, in part due to $98 fares, the system may not truly be put to the test until the highly anticipated World Cup finals. 

System Upgrades 

In some host cities, World Cup preparation called for making smaller scale but significant upgrades to existing infrastructure rather than reshaping citywide transit systems. Philadelphia’s Lincoln Field, located within South Philadelphia, was already easily accessible through SEPTA’s Metro system, as well as bus service and commuter and intercity connections. Moreover, the city has experience transporting large crowds reliant on transit for Eagles games around the year. As such, SEPTA focused on smaller-scale station upgrades that would improve crowd flow and passenger experience, rather than reworking the system’s transport infrastructure. The city used the World Cup as an opportunity to significantly upgrade the stadium-proximate NRG Metro station through resurfacing, new roof, new ventilation system, enhanced lighting, waterproofing improvements, and new wayfinding signage. SEPTA additionally made upgrades across popular transfer stations, focusing on ‘quick fix’ improvements including new cashier booths, fare gates, security cameras, and station lighting. While vital in the moment for managing the pressure of World Cup crowds, these projects respond to the system’s longstanding maintenance needs and are likely to improve daily commuter experience over the long-term. 

While Boston’s Gillette Stadium is located 22 miles from downtown in the suburb of Foxborough, it is similarly experienced in handling large gameday ridership from downtown through its commuter rail system. Anticipating the deluge of passengers seeking to leave via rail immediately after World Cup matches, the MBTA invested in stadium station improvements, building out 800 foot long, high-level platforms to improve accessibility, allow side-by-side boarding, and expedite loading and unloading operations for a transit capacity of 20,000 passengers per event. To reap these benefits over the long-term, the MBTA invested in permanent infrastructure for one side of the platform, while constructing a temporary platform on the other side that can be redeployed for future large event needs. 

Transit riders in Seattle have expressed frustration that it took an international competition for Sound Transit to invest in long-needed deferred maintenance to station escalators and elevators; still, these benefits will outlast the competition and improve commuter experience for the foreseeable future. In San Francisco, BART invested in station Wi-Fi, originally intended to help international visitors with navigation, but also presenting a long-term convenience upgrade for daily commuters. Beyond station upgrades, Atlanta used the lead-up to the World Cup as an opportunity to roll out its modernized Better Breeze payment system, enabling contactless credit card and digital fare payments. While intended to prevent bottlenecks as out-of-town fans struggled to purchase and use physical fare payment cards, the city again capitalized on World Cup pressures to deliver a more convenient system for daily users over the long term.  

Short-Term Service 

While a number of cities invested in long-term service upgrades, others saw it as more cost effective to focus on temporary gameday improvements – either because existing transit access was already sufficient, or because investing in long-term transit access would prove too costly. Nearly all cities have used additional federal funding to support expanded operations of existing routes, including increased gameday frequency, extended service hours, and added station staffing. Some have additionally contracted charter service to facilitate bus or shuttle service over temporary, more direct routes to stadiums. For instance, Miami, which already has a robust network of urban, commuter, and intercity rail, added bus service between Hard Rock Stadium and nearby stations on all three rail systems to resolve the last mile problem.  

Dallas has similarly relied on charter bus service. While AT&T Stadium is located in the apparent transit desert of suburban Arlington, fans can travel either east from Fort Worth or West from Dallas on the Trinity Railway Express to Centerpoint Station, where buses will transport them for the final leg of the journey. In addition to temporarily hiring a fleet of charter vehicles, the host region is temporarily designating dedicated bus lanes to limit delays public transit users experience as they make their way through congested roadways before and after the games. Arlington was also awarded a $350 thousand grant to expand local subsidized rideshare services to help visitors get around the suburban area outside of gameday, despite the lack of transit. 

Beyond the expansion of its streetcar, which does not service the stadium directly, Kansas City has gone all in on temporary bus service, leasing 225 additional buses for the summer-only ConnectKC26 service. The system provides direct stadium service, as well as routes to the airport, fan festival, and downtown sites throughout the length of the tournament to help visitors without cars move around a city with limited regular bus offerings. ConnectKC26 is being funded in part through repurposed FTA grants, originally intended to purchase energy efficient buses for regular service but postponed due to expected operational costs of regularly running the new fleet. While temporarily expanding access, the event-only nature of the service has inspired considerable backlash from area residents. Organizing under the “Not a Game to Us” campaign, local transit users have argued that the city is prioritizing transportation for one-time guests over residents who rely on the system throughout the year. The disparity between permanent and temporary services is particularly striking in the face of KCATA’s plans to cut one quarter of local bus routes later in the summer, unless local governments provide additional funding.  

In these cases, investments in temporarily expanded transit operations are likely to meet the short-term needs of event attendees but fall short of providing the long-term transit benefits of funds spent on capital improvements. Without assured financial support for transit operations stretching beyond the World Cup, these cities appeared unable to fully capitalize on the opportunity to make lasting investments in regional transportation. Still, increased transit reliance during the tournament may serve a valuable role as a ‘proof of concept’ for public transit services, capable of generating public support for continued investments in public transportation. Indeed, early coverage indicates fans have enjoyed the ease of avoiding stadium traffic and generally support similar service at future events. 

Lessons Learned 

That brings us to the final host city yet to be mentioned – Los Angeles. While the World Cup has certainly brought renewed focus on Southern California’s transit systems, in the broader scheme of things, the World Cup and the 2027 Super Bowl have served as intermediary deadlines in the lead up to the 2028 LA Olympics. Unlike the World Cup, during which games are spread across the continent, the Olympics concentrates sporting events, fan arrivals, and international attention on venues across a single city. While Los Angeles has long been known for its highways and car dependency, the decade-long span between the announcement of the games and their eventual arrival has afforded the city time and effort to lay out truly transformative plans for regional transportation. Following its 28 Projects by 2028 Games capital investment plan, LA’s Metro system is investing to an unprecedented degree in expanded underground heavy rail lines, improved light rail, new bus rapid transit, and cycling infrastructure. Seeming to have already learned lessons from the World Cup, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has included five-year authorization of general fund spending to support international games within the BUILD America 250 reauthorization package, presumably supporting LA’s project completion, as well as early preparations for Salt Lake City’s 2034 Winter Olympics. With these long-term investments in its program to create a ‘car-free Olympics’, Los Angeles has served as a model for the opportunity global games present for meaningful and lasting transit investment. 

Assessing the range of World Cup transit investments, a number of lessons emerge. International athletic games and other megaevents can certainly energize and accelerate the delivery of transportation projects with long-term benefits. Station upgrades, digital system redesigns, innovative infrastructure, and major transit expansions have all been deployed in large part to meet the needs of World Cup crowds. However, the success of these projects is contingent on a number of factors: 

First, sufficient lead-up time between host city announcement and the actual event is essential. Most of the implemented large-scale projects within U.S. host cities’ four-year window relied on providing hard deadlines for projects already in progress, while attempts to plan new projects from scratch within the tight turnaround window experienced more limited success.  

Second, stadium location plays a key role in determining whether long-term transit investments are feasible. Downtown stadiums that can be directly linked to urban transit make system expansion a practical endeavor, capable of attracting large ridership on a routine basis. Operating service to outlying stadiums, outside of major events, can prove less financially sustainable in the long-term, though smart siting near existing commuter rail networks can reduce this burden.  

Third, a positive outlook for long-term funding is essential to fully capitalize on the opportunity for transit system investment. Agencies need the assurance of long-term financial support for operational expenses in order to make the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunity for capital investment in transit infrastructure that the World Cup provides.