World Cup Boosts Public Transit Use in Host Cities

WHO:

Bloomberg - Margot Kleinman, head of municipal research & portfolio manager at Nuveen.

Smart Cities Dive - Paul Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO.

WHAT:

Bloomberg - Municipal bonds helped 11 US World Cup Host Cities fund upgrades to transportation hubs, airports, and enhance security.

Smart Cities Dive - Transit agencies in several host cities reported record-setting ridership on certain game days.

Smart Cities Dive - More than 26 public transit agencies across 11 U.S. host communities prepared for an influx of international tourists and soccer fans.

Smart Cities Dive - The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority added capacity on its Broad Street Line to move some 15,000 people per hour.

Smart Cities Dive - MARTA reported ridership on game and event days ranged from 1.2 times to three times normal daily ridership, carrying 1.7 million people to World Cup matches, fan festivals, and related events.

Smart Cities Dive - Seattle’s Sound Transit light rail carried a record 280,000 riders on June 19 for the USA-Australia match.

Smart Cities Dive - Kansas City, Missouri, set a single-day ridership record of more than 39,000 trips on June 16 for the Argentina-Algeria match.

Smart Cities Dive - The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority saw a nearly sixfold increase in fare payments on a match day compared to a typical Friday.

WHERE:

Bloomberg - 11 US World Cup Host Cities.

Smart Cities Dive - Southeastern Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Seattle, Kansas City, Missouri, Los Angeles.

WHEN:

Smart Cities Dive - In February, Congress appropriated more than $100 million in Federal Transportation Agency funds.

Smart Cities Dive - As of June 26, MARTA had carried 1.7 million people.

Smart Cities Dive - Seattle’s Sound Transit light rail carried a record 280,000 riders on June 19.

Smart Cities Dive - Kansas City set a single-day ridership record on June 16.

WHY:

Smart Cities Dive - Transit agencies expanded service, deployed additional staff, and enhanced security to accommodate visiting soccer fans.

HOW:

Smart Cities Dive - Agencies added trains, buses, and customer-service staff, ramped up maintenance prior to the event, and deployed maintenance staff at transit stops.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 23:28 UTC)

Municipal bonds have played a crucial role in helping 11 U.S. World Cup Host Cities upgrade their transportation hubs, airports, and security measures, according to Margot Kleinman from Nuveen. In a remarkable display of efficiency, transit agencies across these cities reported record-setting ridership, with Seattle’s Sound Transit light rail carrying 280,000 riders on June 19 and Kansas City achieving over 39,000 trips on June 16. To accommodate the influx of international tourists and soccer fans, agencies expanded services, added trains and buses, and deployed additional staff to ensure smooth operations during the events.