World Cup Transit: How Cities Are Preparing for 2026

About this episode

This episode discusses how cities are preparing their transit systems for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the challenges involved in accommodating large numbers of visitors.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to North America—and for public transportation agencies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the countdown is already underway. In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort speaks with transportation journalist Dan Zukowski of Smart Cities Dive about the enormous mobility challenge behind one of the world’s biggest sporting events. From Los Angeles and Boston to New York-New Jersey and Atlanta, transit agencies are preparing to move hundreds of thousands of visitors safely, efficiently, and seamlessly through their cities. Dan breaks down how agencies are expanding service, coordinating with law enforcement, improving customer wayfinding, and preparing for the unique pressures of international visitors arriving during weekday rush hours. The conversation also explores how the World Cup could become a defining moment for public transportation in America—and potentially leave behind lasting improvements for riders long after the final match. Paul and Dan discuss: How host cities are preparing transit systems for FIFA 2026 Why mobility is central to the success of mega-events LA Metro’s long-term “Twenty-Eight by 28” infrastructure…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Comfort

Guest: Dan Zukowski

Topics covered

• World Cup transit preparation
• public transportation challenges
• mobility for mega-events
• transit agency coordination
• customer wayfinding
• crowd management
• long-term infrastructure strategy

Keywords

• FIFA World Cup
• public transportation
• mobility
• transit agencies
• crowd management
• infrastructure strategy
• customer experience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Smart Cities Dive

Places: United States, Canada, Mexico, Los Angeles, Boston, New York-New Jersey, Atlanta

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