With the FIFA World Cup 2026 in full swing, Friday’s U.S. vs. Australia match promises to bring plenty of fans to downtown Seattle. That, combined with multiple Juneteenth holiday events and other World Cup activities, makes trip planning essential.
Riders headed to the match should use our preferred stations for going to and from the renamed Seattle Stadium (800 Occidental Ave. S.) depending on originating direction and mobility needs.
To reduce wait times and metering of platforms (done for safety reasons), especially post-match, passengers will be encouraged to use multiple stations to get to and depart the game — from/to the north, use Pioneer Square; from/to the south, use Stadium; from/to 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 the preferred path for passengers with reduced mobility and Sounder riders. Much of the area surrounding the stadium will be pedestrian-only.
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. Secure BikeLink lockers will be free on match days but require an app. More information on parking and station access can be found at https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament/parking-access.
Additional security personnel and Sound Transit staff will be available at stations to help passengers. Even with extra service, riders should expect that station entrances and 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. The King County Metro free match-day shuttle (stops at First Avenue South and South Charles Street and Alaskan Way South at South Jackson Street as well as Yesler Way) is a great option to get to other parts of the city.
- 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 to Lynnwood.
T Line
Tacoma’s T Line will run trains every 12 minutes on match days and this Sunday and extend service for evening matches to meet Sounder passengers at Tacoma Dome Station.
Sounder Service
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,
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
