When you tap your card at a station or step onto a bus, you aren’t thinking about city limits or service boundaries. You are thinking about your destination. You just want to get there.
As we prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026, we know that city boundaries are invisible to our riders and they will be invisible to us.
For the millions of trips expected during the tournament, Sound Transit is operating as the backbone of a unified regional network. Whether you are coming from Everett, Tacoma, Bellevue, or Seattle, the plan is integrated, the operations are synchronized, and the system is seamless.
Connecting across Lake Washington
This summer marks a historic milestone for our region’s connectivity. With the completed Crosslake Connection fully integrated into our network before the tournament (opening March 28!), the 2 Line is bridging the gap between the Eastside and Seattle like never before.
For the first time, fans and families in Redmond and Bellevue have a direct, reliable rail link to a major event. This isn’t just about getting fans to the match; it’s about connecting our communities. The 2 Line provides a dedicated pathway to bypass the traffic bottlenecks of I-90 and connect seamlessly with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station.
Working together and unifying our operations
We aren't doing this alone. We are working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners at King County Metro, WSDOT, Port of Seattle, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, and the Seattle Center Monorail.
Behind the scenes, our operations teams are coordinating schedules and managing crowds as one unit. A delay in one part of the system triggers a coordinated response across the others. We are aligning our wayfinding and our staff on the ground so whether you are transferring from a bus in Snohomish County or a streetcar in Seattle, the guidance remains consistent and clear.
Regionally accepted payment options
The key to navigating this seamless system is already in your pocket — or on your phone.
We need everyone to be ready to ride before they arrive at the platform. The most important tool you can have this summer is a loaded ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app. You’ll also be able to tap your credit or debit card on our yellow readers to ride transit.
Your ORCA card is your all-access pass to the entire Puget Sound region. It works on Link light rail, Sounder trains, ST Express buses, King County Metro, streetcars, water taxis, and more. It is the single best way to keep moving without fumbling for cash or waiting in line at a ticket machine.
We will also have two new payment options available – designed to meet the needs of our travelers. We are offering a multi-day pass for those planning to travel on three consecutive days, and major credit cards, including those in your digital wallet, can also be tapped on ORCA card readers as fare payment. Keep in mind that it is one tap or ticket per rider, and the two-hour transfer window will remain in effect.
Our goal is for passengers to experience a region that moves as one. Our agencies are aligning schedules and planning as a connected network. When the world arrives, travelers won’t see city limits; they will see how seamlessly we move together.
When you step onto a platform, you’ll be thinking about watching the beautiful game. And if we’ve done our job right, the journey to Seattle Stadium will feel effortless because our region chose to move as one.
That is the standard we are setting for the World Cup. And it’s one we will hold long after the matches end.