Getting to the Stadium: Transit Guide for Every U.S. and Canadian World Cup 2026 Venue

Estimated minutes reflect airport to stadium zone via the primary transit route. Actual time varies by time of day, match-day congestion, and connection timing.

These five cities offer the simplest path. Land, board a train, and reach the stadium area without a car, a shuttle reservation, or a transfer puzzle.

Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

MARTA rail runs directly from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to the stadium district. Take the Blue or Green line to the SEC District Station (formerly GWCC/CNN Center) or Vine City Station, both within walking distance of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Total time from baggage claim to the stadium area: roughly 20 minutes. This is the fastest airport-to-stadium rail connection on the entire World Cup schedule.

Seattle (Lumen Field)

Sound Transit's Link Light Rail connects Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Stadium Station, which sits directly adjacent to Lumen Field. One train, no transfers. Roughly 35 minutes end to end. Climate Pledge Arena, if you're stacking a non-soccer event, requires a transfer at Westlake Station to the Seattle Center Monorail.

Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)

SEPTA's Airport Line runs from all PHL terminals to Center City. Transfer to the Broad Street Line subway at Suburban or Jefferson Station, then ride south to NRG Station at the Sports Complex. Two trains, one transfer, roughly 28 minutes total. Philadelphia's Sports Complex clusters all four major venues in one walkable zone, which simplifies any multi-sport stacking.

Vancouver (BC Place)

The SkyTrain Canada Line runs from YVR directly to downtown, where BC Place sits within walking distance of Stadium-Chinatown Station. Roughly 25 minutes. Note the $5 Canada Line YVR AddFare applied to trips originating from the airport. Contactless credit and debit card payment works across the TransLink system.

Toronto (BMO Field)

The UP Express connects Pearson Airport (YYZ) to Union Station in 25 minutes. From Union, BMO Field is accessible via the Exhibition GO station or streetcar lines 509/511. Billy Bishop City Airport (YTZ) is closer to downtown and connects via pedestrian tunnel, but offers limited routing. Total airport-to-stadium time from YYZ: roughly 35 minutes. Toronto's downtown sports cluster (Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre) is walkable from Union Station if you're stacking a Jays or Raptors game around your World Cup match.

These cities have rail systems, but either the stadium or the airport sits outside the rail network's direct reach. You'll need a shuttle, a bus connection, or a short rideshare to close the gap.

Houston (NRG Stadium)

METRORail's Red Line runs directly to the Stadium Park/Astrodome station at NRG Park, but neither IAH nor HOU airport has a rail connection. You'll need a bus (METRO Bus 500 Downtown Direct) or rideshare from the airport to downtown, then the Red Line to NRG Stadium. If the fare difference is small, fly into HOU; it's closer to both downtown and the stadium. Once you're on the Red Line, the ride to NRG is straightforward and covers the same track that serves Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and Shell Energy Stadium for any non-World-Cup stacking.

Inglewood/Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood sits outside LA Metro's rail footprint. The closest rail options are the K Line and C Line, with Metro bus routes and game-day shuttles bridging the gap. From LAX, the LAX/Metro Transit Center connects to the C Line. Event-day shuttles from the rail stations to SoFi are announced closer to the match; check the official venue page before traveling. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is worth considering for domestic flights, though it doesn't improve the SoFi connection specifically.

SoFi Stadium's event-day shuttle routes change per event. Do not assume the same shuttle stop or schedule from one match to the next.

Miami Gardens (Hard Rock Stadium)

Hard Rock Stadium sits in suburban Miami Gardens, north of Miami's core transit grid. Brightline offers train service to Aventura Station with complimentary event-day shuttles to the stadium. Alternatively, Tri-Rail connects to Golden Glades Station with a shuttle transfer. Both routes work only on match days. On non-event days, rideshare or car is the only practical option. Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) puts you closer to the stadium's latitude; Miami International (MIA) connects more easily to downtown hotels.

San Francisco/Santa Clara (Levi's Stadium)

Levi's Stadium sits in Santa Clara, roughly 45 miles south of San Francisco. From SFO, take BART to Milpitas or San Jose Diridon, then VTA Light Rail (Green Line) toward the Great America station near the stadium. Alternatively, Caltrain runs from San Francisco to Mountain View or Santa Clara, with a VTA transfer. Either way, expect 45-90 minutes depending on connections and at least one transfer. San Jose Mineta Airport (SJC) shortens the trip significantly if routing allows.

These cities have no regular rail connection between the airport and the stadium. Two of them (New York and Boston) run special event-day rail for large events, but outside of match day, you're relying on rideshare, motorcoaches, or a rental car.

Dallas/Arlington (AT&T Stadium)

AT&T Stadium sits in Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth, with no DART rail service. From DFW Airport, you can take the DART Orange Line to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, but that only gets you to Arlington's edge; the final leg to the stadium requires a rideshare, taxi, or the Arlington RAPID shuttle. Dallas Love Field (DAL) is closer to downtown Dallas but doesn't improve the Arlington connection. Budget for a rideshare both ways unless organized event shuttles are announced.

Kansas City (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium)

Arrowhead Stadium sits in the Truman Sports Complex with no regular rail service. From MCI airport, the RideKC bus runs hourly to downtown (48-52 minutes), but doesn't reach the stadium. For the World Cup, ConnectKC26 motorcoach services are planned to connect MCI airport and downtown directly to Arrowhead on match days. Details and booking will be available closer to the tournament. On non-match days, rideshare or rental car is the only option.

Boston/Foxborough (Gillette Stadium)

Gillette Stadium sits in Foxborough, roughly 30 miles south of Boston. From Logan Airport, take the MBTA Blue Line to Government Center, transfer to the Green Line or walk to South Station. On match days, the MBTA operates the "Patriot Train" from South Station to Foxborough. This service exists only for large events; it is not on the regular schedule and won't appear in standard transit apps until match-day service is confirmed. Without the Patriot Train, you need a car or rideshare from Boston.

New York/East Rutherford (MetLife Stadium)

MetLife Stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NJ TRANSIT operates the Meadowlands Rail Line to the stadium's front door, but only for events with 50,000+ attendees, which all World Cup matches will qualify for. This service requires a special event ticket/pass. From Newark Airport (EWR), take NJ TRANSIT or PATH to Secaucus Junction, then the Meadowlands Line to the stadium. From JFK or LGA, the connection adds an extra transfer through Penn Station or Secaucus. Without the event-day rail, there is no regular transit to MetLife.

The Meadowlands Rail Line requires a separate event-day ticket. Regular NJ TRANSIT passes don't cover it. Check NJ TRANSIT's event page before traveling.

Several host cities have a secondary airport that changes the transit math.

Houston: HOU (Hobby) is closer to both downtown and NRG Stadium. Fly into HOU if the fare is comparable to IAH.

Miami: FLL (Fort Lauderdale) puts you geographically closer to Hard Rock Stadium. MIA connects better to downtown hotel clusters.

New York: EWR (Newark) has the shortest path to MetLife Stadium via NJ TRANSIT. JFK and LGA both require crossing into New Jersey, adding time and transfers.

Los Angeles: BUR (Burbank) is faster to downtown hotels but doesn't help for SoFi specifically. LAX remains the default for international arrivals.

San Francisco: SJC (San Jose) is significantly closer to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. SFO is the better choice if your hotel is in San Francisco proper.

Every World Cup venue enforces a clear bag policy. Bags must be clear plastic, maximum 12" x 6" x 12". Small clutch bags (4.5" x 6.5") are allowed at all venues. Check individual venue pages for stadium-specific variations before you pack.

All WC stadiums require cashless payment. Carry a credit or debit card; cash won't work at concessions, parking, or merchandise.

Event-day transit services at MetLife, Gillette, Hard Rock, and Arrowhead do not run on non-match days. If you arrive a day early and want to scout the route, the match-day transit won't be operating. Use rideshare for recon trips.

For the complete ranking of World Cup host cities across transit, cost, and overall trip quality, see Every U.S. and Canadian 2026 World Cup Host City, Ranked for Sports Fans. For city-specific cost breakdowns, see our World Cup cost series: New York, Dallas, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, and Houston.

Where the Data Comes From

Transit times, rail tiers, and airport connections are sourced from SportCation's city_logistics dataset, which aggregates published transit authority schedules, airport ground transportation guides, and venue-specific logistics pages. Hotel and ticket pricing are covered in dedicated cost posts, not this guide. Event-day shuttle details are subject to change as FIFA and host cities finalize transportation plans.

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