Pioneer Square to be walkable pedestrian zone for 6 FIFA matches - SDOT Blog
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Pioneer Square to be walkable pedestrian zone for 6 FIFA matches
by
SDOT Staff
on
April 22, 2026
People gathered at Occidental Park in the heart of the historic Pioneer Square district. Many are wearing Sounders FC jerseys or the team’s green and blue colors. Photo: SDOT
When
FIFA Men’s World Cup comes to Seattle
this summer, the area near Lumen Field in
Pioneer Square will become a pedestrian zone
during the six match days.
About 750,000 people are expected to visit Seattle for FIFA, and 100,000 people are expected in and around Lumen Field on match days. We hope at least 80% will use transit, walking, biking and carpooling.
The temporary pedestrian zones create more space for you to walk, roll, and gather, while uplifting event safety for visitors, workers, and residents. This approach also helps manage the queuing for a single stadium entry point (north gates only), early gate opening (3 hours prior), and heavy activation in Pioneer Square with watch parties, bands, and entertainment.
Read more about the
Pioneer Square pedestrian zone
on our website and in our
recent blog post
about how we’re getting ready for the World Cup.
A similar effort will be made at
Pike Place Market
, where we are considering new kinds of temporary barriers to support a safe and secure experience for people and businesses in the neighborhood.
RELATED STORIES:
Seattle gears up for FIFA Men’s World Cup | #WCSeattle
SDOT’s ‘Flip Your Trip’ wins national award, gets revamp ahead of FIFA
New rendering shows what Pike Place Market could look like by FIFA Men’s World Cup
Supporting local businesses within the pedestrian zone
We’re working with:
Local businesses on possible opportunities to activate the streets and sidewalks. This could include sidewalk cafes, merchandise displays, and outdoor seating.
The World Cup Local Organizing Committee, which is managing vending opportunities within the pedestrian zone in areas not already populated with shops.
Business owners and community partners in advance to understand access needs, ensure emergency response continues, and bikes and scooters are parked well.
Learn more about the
Pioneer Square pedestrian zone here
Getting to Pioneer Square
Public transportation is a great way to get to Pioneer Square any day, especially during the World Cup.
Anyone 18 and younger rides local buses, streetcars, Link light rail, and ferries for free and discounted fares are available for
eligible adults
. Metro and Sound Transit will also offer more service during matches.
Explore your travel options on
FlipYourTrip.org
. Here are a few at a glance.
Do you have questions about how to get around Seattle? Email us at
get.social@seattle.gov
and we may turn your question into our next video or blog post.
Streetcar
The
First Hill Line
travels between Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill, starting at Occidental Mall and ending across the street from Cal Anderson Park.
There are two streetcar lines in Seattle:
First Hill Line
connects
Capitol Hill, First Hill, Yesler Terrace, Central District, Little Saigon, Chinatown, Japantown, Pioneer Square.
Travel Alert:
On World Cup match days, the Occidental Mall stop will be closed, and the streetcar terminus will be located at 5th and Jackson.
Follow
@SDOTtraffic
on X for real-time city street updates and visit the
News + alerts
page on
FlipYourTrip.org
for more real-time resources from other local transit agencies.
South Lake Union Line
connects
Lake Union, South Lake Union, Denny Triangle, McGraw Square where you can catch light rail to the Chinatown International District and Pioneer Square
Learn more about the streetcar on
seattle.gov/Streetcar
. Check the
News + alerts
page on
FlipYourTrip.org
for links to real-time transit alerts from local transit agencies.
Shared bikes and scooters
Shared bikes and scooters entering the Pioneer Square pedestrian area will be slowed to 8 MPH. Valet parking will be offered, and riders will be directed to these parking areas.
Please remember to:
Always wear a helmet.
Plan your trip to use bike lanes whenever possible.
We recently finished a
new bike lane on Yesler Way
, making it easier to get between Pioneer Square, other parts of Downtown Seattle and the waterfront. Here are some bike lane maps:
Simplified bike map of downtown area
(see below)
Interactive bike map of the city
Park out of the way at the end of your ride.
If you see a designated parking spot or bike rack, please use it. In the pedestrian zone, be on the lookout for valet parking areas.
Learn more on
seattle.gov/BikeShare
Bike lanes in Downtown Seattle. Learn more about our
City Center Bike Network
here and explore an
interactive bike map of the city here
. Graphic: SDOT
Bus
Seattle’s central bus corridor, 3rd Avenue, runs to Pioneer Square. Our partners at
King County Metro
, which operates bus and other service in Seattle, offer the
Metro Trip Planner
to help you plan in advance.
Make sure to check
King County Metro’s website
for match-day updates and information on any special services. Links to real-time information from King County Metro and other local transit agencies can be found on the
News + alerts
page of
FlipYourTrip.com
Light rail
Pioneer Square is close to three light rail stations:
Pioneer Square
International District/Chinatown
Stadium
Sound Transit
, which manages the Link light rail, Sounder Trains, and Sound Transit Express buses, also has a
handy trip planner
tool.
Make sure to check
Sound Transit’s website
for match-day updates and information on any special services. Links to real-time information from Sound Transit and other local transit agencies can be found on the
News + alerts
page of
FlipYourTrip.com
Ferries and water taxis
Pioneer Square is a short stroll or roll from the Seattle Ferry Terminal and Pier 50 with services to Bainbridge Island and Vashon Island, West Seattle, Kingston, Bremerton, and other Kitsap County destinations. Leave your car behind and enjoy the ride.
Make sure to check
King County’s website for water taxi updates
and
Washington State Department of Transportation’s website for ferry alerts
Links to real-time information from those agencies and more can be found on the
News + alerts
page of
FlipYourTrip.com
Stay connected
We’ll keep sharing updates, tips, and travel information across SDOT channels so you can stay informed and plan ahead with confidence. This blog is just the beginning.
Visit and follow along:
Web
Blog
X Traffic
Flickr
Customer Service
Alert Seattle
Filed Under:
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Pedestrians
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Tagged With:
FIFA
FIFA World Cup
games
match day
pedestrian zone
Pioneer Square
safety
sports
Street Use
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