Pierce Transit organized a meeting on Wednesday, bringing together local leaders and Pierce County officials to discuss their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle.
Pierce County authorities anticipate that their region and Tacoma will be key locations where the approximately 750,000 attendees of the four-yearly tournament will seek accommodation.
Six matches will take place at Seattle's Lumen Field, including one group stage game involving the U.S. Men's National Team, along with two knockout games in the Round of 16 and Round of 32.
For individuals who cannot or do not wish to pay the high cost of a ticket, there will be nine Fan Zones across Washington, one of which is located in Tacoma. The official site has not been revealed yet, but Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello mentioned it will take place before the year ends, probably within the next few months.
Fan Zones feature live game viewings, food fairs, local art and music displays, and hands-on soccer training sessions. This is why Pierce Transit is intensely committed to developing ways to handle the heavy traffic they will encounter.
"Unless we desire highways and streets with traffic congestion and a lack of parking, these individuals will have to use public transportation," said Mike Griffus, CEO of Pierce Transit.
Mello, who also serves as an acting member on the Pierce and Sound Transit boards, states that Pierce Transit plans to expand its bus route network, while also aiming to enhance the frequency of these routes to assist fans in navigating the Puget Sound area. A key focus will be the Link Light Rail extension heading to Federal Way, which is anticipated to launch in December 2025.
Due to the volume we'll be able to handle, this is what we refer to as a surge," said Mello. "It makes sense to operate many bus routes that connect to light rail stations and then determine how to increase the frequency of light rail trains to accommodate the number of people we're serving.
Mello also mentioned that due to a significant rise in passenger numbers, including many international tourists who don't speak English, they are considering a new payment system known as "Open Payment" for their bus services.
We are developing Open Payment, allowing people to simply use their credit card or debit card from their wallet to tap and pay, enabling them to reach their destination in a more effortless manner.
Mello stated that they aim to have the system operational by early 2026. He and other attendees at Wednesday's Summit shared their enthusiasm regarding the challenge and the potential benefits for their local economy.
"They're not only attending the games, but they're also here to discover all that we have to offer—the stunning area we call home, along with the restaurants, parks, and Mount Rainier," said Mello.
Pierce Transit mentioned that it is still in the process of creating its strategy for utilizing state funds for its World Cup preparations. They have until December 1st to submit a plan to the state detailing how they intend to allocate their share of the funding.
A representative stated that in this year's budget, the legislature allocated $9 million for transit agencies, which is distributed as follows:
- 40% is allocated to King County Metro
- 40% is allocated to transportation agencies in Pierce, King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties.
- 20% is allocated to transit agencies that have Fan Zones
As a result, Pierce Transit will receive a portion of the 40% and 20% allocations from the $9 million.