Toronto unveils World Cup 2026 mobility plan and pushes transit-first travel
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The City of Toronto has released its mobility plan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, outlining how it intends to manage the heavy pressure expected on roads and transit during the tournament. Toronto is set to host six matches beginning on June 12, while Toronto Stadium is expected to welcome more than 45,000 spectators on match days. The city also expects up to 20,000 people at the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and The Bentway across as many as 22 operating days.
The plan is built around a clear message: public transit will be the main way to get to matches and related events. The city said there will be no public parking for spectators at Toronto Stadium, Exhibition Place, or surrounding neighbourhoods including Liberty Village and Fort York. Temporary road closures, parking restrictions, and traffic changes will also be introduced depending on the day and location, with residents and visitors urged to plan ahead and avoid driving where possible.
According to the TTC, service inside the city will be expanded on Line 1 and Line 2, with enhanced service on the 29 Dufferin and 929 Dufferin Express routes between Dufferin Station and Dufferin Gate Loop. The 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, and 511 Bathurst streetcar routes will run every five minutes throughout the day, and additional shuttle buses will operate on Toronto match days to help handle expected crowd surges. TTC also said Wheel-Trans service will be available on demand throughout the tournament, with trips bookable up to seven days in advance.
At the regional level, Exhibition GO will serve as the main GO station for the stadium and the fan festival area, while travellers arriving through Pearson airport are being encouraged to use UP Express into downtown. Toronto’s mobility plan targets 70 per cent of stadium spectators arriving by TTC or GO Transit, while another share is expected to walk or cycle, supported by bike parking and related active-transportation measures.
Taxi and rideshare traffic will also face tighter controls near the stadium area, with designated pick-up and drop-off zones outside restricted sections. Overall, the plan makes clear that Toronto is treating the World Cup as a major urban transportation challenge as much as a sporting event, with the city signalling early that the easiest way to move around during the tournament will be by subway, streetcar, bus, and train rather than private car.
