FIFA World Cup 2026 fans met up in Fullerton to take Metrolink to Los Angeles for the tournament festivities.
At the midway point of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Metrolink has experienced a significant ridership boost, as Southern Californians and visiting fans turn to public transportation to reach matches at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood and watch parties across the region. Throughout the tournament, we’re offering special post-event service on most lines for all local matches in addition to later-than-normal service for the official FIFA-sanctioned Heart of the City at Los Angeles Union Station Fan Zone, which brought the spirit of the iconic international competition directly to our operational hub from June 25-28.
With three weeks of World Cup festivities in the books, Metrolink has enjoyed a 7.5% increase in ridership compared to the preceding three-week period, which has been fueled in large part by new customers. Over that time span, average weekly mobile account registrations have jumped by approximately 30%, accounting for nearly 1,100 new users each week. Average daily weekend ridership in June has outpaced 2025 by about 25%, with total monthly ridership through June 28 up 11% year over year. On Thursday, June 18, we also recorded our highest number of single-day boardings since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, excluding annual free-ride promotions and the 2024 and 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series championship parades.
To ensure a smooth rider experience, Metrolink team members have been out on the system en masse, assisting passengers with ticket purchases, explaining transfers and connections, managing crowds and reinforcing safety measures. We’ve also bolstered support at Union Station to accommodate the large volume of event-goers looking to catch special bus service to the stadium or passing through on the way to fan events. Thanks to our longstanding partnership, Metrolink customers enjoy free transfers to LA Metro, including dedicated matchday buses bound for the venue from connection points in Downtown Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Metrolink riders, including regular transportation users and World Cup fans comprised of local Southern Californians and out-of-town visitors, navigate the tunnel at LA Union Station; World Cup events have increased traffic through Metrolink’s central hub.
The action at Los Angeles Stadium will conclude with a round-of-32 matchup on Thursday, July 2, followed by a quarterfinal showdown on Friday, July 10. Additional authorized World Cup Fan Zone events that are easily accessible via Metrolink will take place at the Fairplex in Pomona July 14-15 and 18-19, as well as in Downtown Burbank July 18-19. Lessons learned this summer will buoy planning for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as Metrolink prepares to serve as the regional transportation backbone of the world’s largest sporting event in just two short years.