Soccer tournament FAQs

You need to pay to ride transit in the region. The best option for paying is either tap your contactless credit/debit card or mobile wallet (Google Pay/Apple Pay) on our yellow card readers or buying and loading an ORCA card (our regional transit payment card). We will offer a $18 3-day pass during the tournament which works across multiple agencies for easy fare payment. More information about this pass will be available as we get closer to the event.

You have several options: 

• Tap to Pay: Use your contactless credit/debit card or mobile wallet (Google Pay/Apple Pay) directly on the yellow card reader. Readers accept contactless American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa cards.
• ORCA Card: Use our regional transit card for easy transfers and the ability to purchase a special 3-day pass. Tip: Purchase/load an ORCA card when you arrive to avoid long lines on match days. You can add future day passes to your ORCA card via the myORCA app, myorca.com, or ticket vending machines. 
• Transit GO App: Download the app to purchase tickets on your phone. Note: These tickets do not support inter-agency transfers. 
  • Download from Google Play here. 
  • Download from the App Store here.
• Ticket Vending Machines: Ticket vending machines at Sound Transit stations offer same-day, single-ride tickets for Link or Sounder and accept cash payments. 

We will offer a special ORCA 3-day $18 pass this summer which will provide multi-agency transit rides for three consecutive days. This price is equal to three $6 single-day passes. 

An ORCA card is our most commonly used payment method, but is not required for payment. Learn more about how to purchase/use ORCA cards and other payment methods here.

No. One tap for one person. Each rider needs their own payment method (card, phone, or ticket). Groups should purchase individual ORCA cards, use the Transit GO Ticket app to buy multiple passes on a single device, or purchase paper tickets at a vending machine which are located at all our stations. 

To note: youth 18 and under ride fare free and do not need to have a ticket purchased for their ride.

While luggage is allowed, trains will be very crowded on match days. We recommend dropping bags at your accommodation before going to the stadium or Fan Celebration as luggage storage will likely not be available on trains. 

Due to high crowding, bicycles and scooters are not permitted on board Link or Sounder trains on match days. Please use the secure BikeLink parking or shared bike/scooter options available near most stations. 

"Seattle Stadium" is the official venue name for Lumen Field during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Link light rail, Sounder trains, and buses are the best ways to get to the match from areas beyond downtown Seattle.

If you’re staying or traveling within downtown Seattle, we recommend walking or using the King County Metro downtown circulator bus to reach Seattle Stadium. To maintain crowd control and safety, we ask train passengers to use designated stations according to their direction of arrival. Please refer to our "Getting to the matches" page for more info.

We ask that passengers trying to get to Seattle stadium take the following trips to reduce congestion:

• From Sounder trains (N Line and S Line): Please exit the train at King Street Station and use Weller Street or South Jackson Street to access Seattle Stadium.  
• From the North (1 Line and 2 Line): Please exit the train at Pioneer Square Station and walk to Seattle Stadium via Occidental Avenue South. 
• From the South (1 Line): Please exit the train at Stadium Station and walk to Seattle Stadium via South Royal Brougham Way. 
• From the East (2 Line): Please exit the train at International District/Chinatown Station and walk to Seattle Stadium via South Jackson Street. 
• From the West (Ferries): Walk from the ferry terminal to the stadium or use King County Metro downtown circulator buses to reach Seattle Stadium.  
• For those with accessibility needs, see the accessibility section below.  

For more details and a map, you can learn more here.

FIFA World Cup matches attract significantly larger crowds than regular season MLS games. Distributing riders across Pioneer Square, Stadium, and International District stations helps prevent overcrowding on platforms. This one of the many actions we’re recommending to make sure everyone moves faster.

Take the Link 1 Line toward Lynnwood City Center Station from SeaTac/Airport Station. You should exit at Stadium Station for the easiest access to Seattle Stadium. 

We strongly recommend arriving at the stadium area 2-3 hours before the match begins. Stadium gates will open 3 hours before match time. The transit system will be very busy. You should factor in wait times for boarding trains and security screenings at the stadium. 

Expect lines. With 750,000 visitors in the region, clearing the stadium takes time. You should plan for lines of up to two hours post-match. We recommend staying in the downtown Seattle area to enjoy the post-match festivities. FIFA will keep the stadium open for 2 hours after the game and there are many amazing businesses within walking distance of the stadium in the International District, Pioneer Square, and SODO neighborhoods.  

The 1 Line connects the airport to downtown Seattle, the University District, Northgate, Lynnwood, and points in between. The 2 Line connects to Bellevue and Redmond. Connect from 1 Line via International District/Chinatown station for the fastest transfer. Check your hotel's address in our online trip planner to find the closest stop. 

Westlake Station is the closest Link light rail station to Pike Place Market, served by the 1 and 2 Lines. 

Westlake Station is the closest Link light rail station to the Space Needle, served by the 1 and 2 Lines. From Westlake Station, you may walk, take the Seattle Center Monorail, or use King County Metro circulator to reach the Space Needle.

Westlake Station is the closest Link light rail station to Seattle Center and the Space Needle, served by the 1 and 2 Lines. From Westlake Station, you may walk, take the Seattle Center Monorail, or use King County Metro circulator to reach the Fan Celebration. 

Amtrak Cascades, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, and various bus services connect Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Be sure to book your intercity travel well in advance and review documentation requirements for crossing the border. Double check your destination is for Vancouver, B.C., not Vancouver, Washington.  

Please use the International District/Chinatown Station and travel via Weller Street Bridge to get to Seattle Stadium. 

While all stations are accessible, the International District/Chinatown station offers the most direct, accessible, and level pathway to the stadium via the Weller Street Bridge. This avoids heavy crowds and potential steep grades at Pioneer Square or Stadium stations. You are welcome to use the station of your choice with your group. Your group will not be required to separate if the entire party does not need to use the accessible path. 

We are prioritizing accessibility. Staff ambassadors and security will ensure riders with access needs are given priority boarding and elevator access at stations (closest to Seattle Stadium). 

The Weller Street Bridge connects Seattle Stadium and King Street Station to the International District/Chinatown Station. It serves passengers using Link Light Rail and Sounder trains, while also providing pedestrian access to 4th Avenue South.

We’re expecting more than 750K visitors to the region for the World Cup. You should expect significant crowding and potential delays, especially on the six designated Seattle game days between June 15 and July 6. We suggest planning ahead and considering  travel times different from your normal commute that do not overlap with match times.  

Yes. We are running our maximum capacity service. We are utilizing every available train and adjusting schedules to move as many people as possible. 

We strongly encourage all riders to follow the "Preferred Station" guidance during game windows to avoid potential delays to boarding trains.  If you are commuting through downtown, please consider using King County Metro buses as stadium crowds will heavily affect Link stations. 

Parking at stations will be extremely limited and likely to fill up very early. We strongly recommend walking, biking, or taking a local bus to your nearest Link, Sounder, or ST Express bus station. 

To ensure safety and accessibility, the Weller Street Bridge will be limited to Sounder passengers, 2 Line riders traveling to or arriving from stations east of Seattle, and passengers with reduced mobility . All other riders should follow signage and use designated walking paths to/from Stadium or Pioneer Square Stations.