As soccer fans flooded downtown Toronto and Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, transit authorities in both cities faced the challenge of managing significant increases in ridership while supporting the tournament’s fan experience. The final local match in Toronto, featuring Portugal and Croatia on Thursday, prompted adjustments to key bus and streetcar routes as city officials sought to accommodate crowds expected to range from tens of thousands to more than 60,000 spectators.

Josh Colle, chief strategy and customer experience officer for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), highlighted the complexity of planning for unpredictable fan movements, especially during the marches through city streets prior to matches. Despite thorough preparation, officials acknowledged that flexibility was essential to respond to fluctuating crowd sizes and weather conditions.

Toronto’s transit system reported a 43 percent increase in boardings across five major surface corridors serving the stadium during the initial four match days, totaling approximately 760,600 rides. Vancouver’s transit authority, TransLink, recorded its highest ridership since March 2020, with 1.4 million trips across buses, SkyTrains, SeaBuses, and commuter rail on June 24 — the day Canada narrowly lost to Switzerland at BC Place.

TransLink spokesperson Anita Bathe emphasized the role of transit as vital economic infrastructure, noting ridership growth even on non-game days as people traveled to tourists sites, restaurants, and other destinations. She said the tournament provided a strong example of the system’s reliability in handling large crowds and bolstered the agency’s case for future investment.

Users in both cities spoke positively about their transit experiences during the tournament. In Vancouver, Baljit Aujla remarked on the packed conditions and the festive atmosphere on the Expo Line heading toward the Canada-Switzerland match, where fans celebrated collectively upon exiting at Science World station. Similarly, Toronto commuters including Riyaz Ismail, who had attended three matches using TTC and GO Transit services, described the system as efficient and less crowded than anticipated.

International visitors also noted the transit systems’ performance. Lance Sharman and friends from Cambridge, U.K., found Toronto’s subway “far more friendly” and less congested than London’s underground network, despite the World Cup’s demands.

Behind the scenes, years of tactical planning and infrastructure upgrades contributed to the success of transit operations. The TTC quickly adapted to real-time observations, such as fans choosing to walk away from the stadium after the Germany versus Côte d’Ivoire match, aided by drone surveillance to monitor passenger flow. The agency also focused on reducing service disruption response times by conducting drills and tracking vulnerable points like overhead streetcar wires.

Recent investments included new high-frequency bus lanes and other enhancements designed to support the increased demands of the World Cup. Colle expressed hope that these improvements could raise expectations among riders and government partners for sustained, high-quality transit service in the future. He stressed that continued funding for infrastructure, personnel, and operational processes would be critical to maintaining the elevated standards demonstrated during the tournament.

The World Cup concludes on Tuesday with a round of 16 game at BC Place, marking the end of a period during which transit systems in Toronto and Vancouver faced and largely met the unprecedented challenges of delivering reliable service under extraordinary conditions.