Seattle will receive $8.4 million from the U.S. federal government to support public transit operations during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The funds will help city transit systems cope with an expected influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors. The funding is part of a larger $1.2 trillion spending package recently approved by Congress.
The money will be distributed through the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) — a voluntary association of local governments that coordinates long-range transportation, land-use and economic development planning across four counties (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap). The council’s primary role is to develop the regional transportation plan and allocate federal funding to transportation projects. PSRC must determine which local transit agencies and to what extent will receive money to reimburse costs related to increased service during matches and associated events, and it must do so by June.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in 11 U.S. cities, including Seattle, as well as in several cities in Canada and Mexico. The amount of federal funding for each U.S. host city depended on stadium capacity and the number of matches. Seattle, which will host six games, received the smallest amount among all U.S. cities. The city is expected to receive between 400,000 and 750,000 visitors over the course of the tournament.
Federal funds can be used for a wide range of needs: logistics planning, hiring additional staff (drivers, mechanics, dispatchers), improving wayfinding, purchasing security equipment or leasing extra vehicles. However, the funding will not cover increased-fare services, private shuttles, or transport provided exclusively for fans and not open to the general public.
The primary beneficiaries in Seattle will be agencies such as King County Metro and Sound Transit, which operate bus routes and the light rail system. A key route is Sound Transit’s Link light rail line, which connects downtown Seattle to Stadium station within walking distance of Lumen Field. The same line links downtown with Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, the University District, and the suburbs. By 2026 a new East Link extension to Bellevue and Redmond is expected to be completed. The stadium is also served by King County Metro bus routes and Sounder commuter trains. Funding must be used for expenses incurred through the end of July 2026, and it does not require local matching funds. These investments should help ensure smooth transit operations during the region’s largest sporting event.
Based on: Seattle’s World Cup duties draw $8M in federal transportation money