Sound Transit launches several upgrades as ‘Summer of Soccer’ begins

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer tournament upon us, new and regular riders will encounter several improvements to the passenger experience in addition to increased service on match days.

In stations: 

• At the International District/Chinatown Station, all escalators and elevators have been overhauled and modernized and are in service. Additional ORCA readers have also been added at station entrances. 
• Good Maps is now available in 25 languages for station navigation in all 1 and 2 Line stations. Good Maps is a free smart phone app that provides turn-by-turn audio, visual, and mobility navigation to passengers who need assistance. 
• At Stadium, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square and Westlake stations, an accessible icon featuring a wheelchair has been added to the floor of the stations’ platforms. The accessible waiting area is meant for queueing people with reduced mobility for safe, priority boardings onto trains.  
• At Westlake Station, we will reopen and staff the information kiosk on the station mezzanine to assist passengers during the World Cup.
• Increased signage will direct riders to Seattle and to Sea-Tac International Airport. 

On board trains: 

• Trains will call out our preferred stations for going to the renamed Seattle Stadium (800 Occidental Ave. S.) depending on originating direction and mobility needs.   
• Stadium-serving stations: As trains enter Pioneer Square and Stadium stations, the stations’ names and codes will appear on the overhead display with a soccer ball and an outline of the stadium in the far corner. For people with reduced mobility, at International District/Chinatown an accessible icon overlapping the soccer ball will display for riders with reduced mobility. 
• Reminder: Bikes and scooters will not be allowed on Link or Sounder trains on match days. Use BikeLink services or bike/scooter-sharing services to get to the station. BikeLink lockers will be free on match days but require an app. More information on parking, biking and station access can be found at https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament/parking-access.

Throughout the system, riders will hear welcoming and how-to-ride messages from women’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe and former Seahawks standout Doug Baldwin. 

These improvements are in addition to ORCA tap-to-pay, which allows transit riders to use any contactless debit or credit card to pay their fare; the Crosslake Connection with 2 Line service across Lake Washington, connecting Redmond to Lynnwood via Downtown Seattle; and new overnight ST Express bus service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle — all of which debuted earlier this year.

In addition to Fan Celebrations in Seattle and regional Fan Zones in Bremerton, Everett and Tacoma, station activations will occur at the Pioneer Square and Chinatown/International District stations on match days, with special activities planned for Juneteenth, June 19, when the U.S. plays Australia.

During the tournament, passengers will be encouraged to use multiple stations to get to the games — from the north, use Pioneer Square; from the south, use Stadium; from the east (and passengers with reduced mobility), use International District/Chinatown.  The Weller Street Bridge over the railroad tracks at King Street Station will be reserved for passengers with reduced mobility and Sounder riders. Others can access the stadium via South Jackson Street. 

Additional security personnel and Sound Transit staff will be available at stations to help passengers. Even with extra service, riders should expect that trains will be crowded during peak times. In order for passengers to have the best riding experience, Sound Transit has tips to help riders during the tournament and throughout the busy summer season. These include: 

• Sign up for service alerts 
• Spread out on platforms. The first and last cars are frequently less crowded.
• Get to your destination early and leave later. The stadium opens three hours before the match and closes two hours after the match ends. There will be many activities in downtown Seattle to enjoy post-match, so no need to rush to the train station. 
• Consider alternative routes or other ways of getting around.  

Additional Sound Transit World Cup information is available at https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament. 

Following are details about service during FIFA World Cup 2026: 

Link light rail service

There will be increased service on the 1 Line and 2 Line on all match days with trains running every eight minutes from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. This results in trains arriving every four minutes from International District/Chinatown. 

T Line

Tacoma’s T Line will run trains every 12 minutes on match days and extend service for evening matches to meet Sounder passengers at Tacoma Dome Station.

Sounder Service

For the six matches, Sounder game trains will be added, and schedule adjustments will be made for some existing trains to serve the World Cup matches. Regular Sounder commuters should check schedules as timetables may have changed. 

Trains from Everett take about an hour to get to King Street Station. The trip is about an hour and 20 minutes from Lakewood. Full schedule and additional details can be found on our tournament service and activities webpage: https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament

• For the three weekday matches beginning at noon, Monday, June 15 (Belgium vs. Egypt), Friday, June 19 (USA vs. Australia) and Wednesday, June 24 (Bosnia Herzegovina vs. Qatar) the Sounder special event train will leave Everett at 9:45 a.m., making all stops to King Street Station. The special event train from Lakewood via Tacoma departs at 9:26 a.m., making all station stops. Train 1518, the regularly scheduled 10:11 a.m. departure from Lakewood, will be canceled on all noon gamedays. Postgame, the train north to Everett will depart 60 minutes after the match, about 3 p.m. Southbound trains to Lakewood and Tacoma will follow the regular S Line schedule. 
• For the 8 p.m. Friday, June 26 match, Egypt vs. Iran, the N Line special event train departs Everett at 5:45 p.m. and d the S Line special event train departs Lakewood at 5:16 p.m. Return trains to both Everett and Lakewood depart one hour after the match, approximately 11 p.m. 
• For the 5 p.m. Monday, July 6 match, teams TBD, the N Line special event train departs Everett at 2:20 p.m., and the S Line special event train departs Lakewood at 2:26 p.m. Return trains to both Everett and Lakewood depart one hour after the match, approximately 8 p.m. S Line Train 1519 (4:55 p.m., Seattle to Lakewood) will be cancelled to support a pre-event train. 

Sound Transit is also preparing to add ST Express service along key routes if needed and pausing any new work on the 1 Line and 2 Line that would disrupt service. Elevator, escalator and other facilities technicians will also be teed up for rapid response should any issues emerge.