North Texas Transportation System Delivers Smooth Results During FIFA World Cup 2026™
Regional collaboration key to successful mobility plan during monthlong tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Wilson
817-704-2511
bwilson@nctcog.org
July 22, 2026 (Arlington, TEXAS) – North Texas has concluded a successful run of nine FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, efficiently moving over a million visitors during the tournament’s monthlong run in the region. The North Central Texas Council of Governments Transportation Department worked with the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and local, state and federal partners to ensure the transportation system could accommodate visiting soccer fans, along with the nearly 9 million residents who rely on the system every day.
“Executing a seamless experience for global fans required monumental teamwork, and the innovative transit strategy delivered by the NCTCOG Transportation Department, regional transit agencies and the Regional Transportation Council was vital to this success,” said Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “By aligning our federal, state and local partners under a single, coordinated vision, we didn’t just move people efficiently, we proved that our region can deliver at the highest level to successfully host the biggest sporting event in the world.”
GETTING TO MATCHES
One of the fundamental responsibilities of any host city is to safely and efficiently move people. The backbone of the World Cup mobility plan was the currently available rail assets in the region. For match days, the Trinity Railway Express was instrumental in transporting fans and volunteers to the stadium. The TRE’s CentrePort Station served as the transit nerve center for the tournament, where most fans arrived via commuter rail. Once fans reached CentrePort Station, they boarded 125 charter buses bound for the matches at AT&T Stadium, renamed Dallas Stadium for the tournament.
More than 40,000 fans rode charter buses between CentrePort Station and the Bus Hub during the tournament. Most of these fans – approximately 30,000 – arrived at CentrePort on the TRE. The NCTCOG Transportation Department developed a plan with the expectation that, while most fans would drive to matches, the international flavor of the World Cup meant a sizable percentage of fans would use public transportation.
GETTING TO FAN FESTIVAL AND AROUND THE REGION
Regional rail assets by Trinity Metro and extensive light rail assets by Dallas Area Rapid Transit provided mobility within the region, with concentrated service to the Fan Festival at Fair Park in the City of Dallas. The FIFA Transportation plan was built on showcasing not just the existing transit rail assets but the expansive roadway assets in the region, as well. A balanced transportation system for nine match days at Dallas Stadium and 34 days at the Fan Festival reinforced the robust nature of the current transportation system.
The TRE used longer trains running at increased frequencies during the tournament, including Sunday service, ensuring there was sufficient space for fans and commuters alike. If more capacity were needed, a fleet of charter buses stood ready to supplement the TRE. Fans who did not have match tickets but still wanted to participate in the soccer festivities were directed to rideshare options.
Many of the teams participating in the tournament represented nations where public transit is more common. The busiest day at CentrePort was Thursday, June 25, when 7,400 fans boarded charter buses bound for the stadium to watch Japan take on Sweden. The 7,800 fans who rode charter buses back to CentrePort Station after the match represented a tournament high.
“The success of this transit plan belongs to an incredible coalition of local transit providers who aligned to move millions of fans and residents reliably across our multimodal system,” said Michael Morris, P.E., director of transportation at NCTCOG. “I want to personally thank Monica Paul, the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and our transit agencies for their plan execution and relentless dedication.”
WHAT WE LEARNED
Previous special events demonstrated the transportation system could handle the influx of people. However, most other events took place over a few days. The nine World Cup matches stretched across an entire month, from June 14-July 14. Still, the multimodal nature of the transportation system proved valuable as the region hosted events over several weeks. The combination of regional rail and charter buses efficiently moved thousands of fans to and from the matches and created a contingency transit system in case of either high demand or mechanical disruptions.
TRANSPORTATION LEGACY
The Regional Transportation Council approved funding for reasonable transit fares and transportation, operations, and safety enhancements made in and around the Arlington Entertainment District in advance of the World Cup. Gaps in the sidewalk network were filled and lighting was improved, ensuring people who parked in the district would be able to safely make their way to and from the stadium. Traffic signals and electronic wayfinding signage in the Entertainment District were also upgraded.
The overall transportation plan showed the world that a region as large as Dallas-Fort Worth could move residents and guests efficiently around the region using multiple modes.
North Texas will use this experience from efforts over the past two years to prepare for the next opportunity to showcase its transportation system to a visiting audience, no matter how they prefer to move throughout the region.
“We are grateful to FIFA, whose trust and confidence allowed us to prove our regional transportation network is fully equipped to excel on the global stage, leaving behind a blueprint for future events of this magnitude in North Texas,” Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said. “We are also grateful for the future business opportunities that will result for all of North Texas from the successful results of FIFA events, the kindness of our citizens to our worldwide guests and long-term international acclaim born from this region’s accomplishments.”
About the Regional Transportation Council:
The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policymaking body for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974. The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties. The RTC’s 45 members include local elected or appointed officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area’s transportation providers.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered in the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth.
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