During the 2026 World Cup in Toronto, there was a noticeable increase in people opting for walking, cycling, and public transit as their modes of transportation, according to data obtained from the city, TTC, and Bike Share by CBC News. Toronto’s involvement in the tournament commenced on June 12 with a match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina and concluded on July 2 with a game between Portugal and Croatia.
The data revealed a significant rise in pedestrian activity by 130% and cycling activity by 65% around Toronto Stadium on the first match day compared to the preceding four weeks. Additional data shared for two other match days showed similar positive trends: during the June 17 match between Panama and Ghana, pedestrian activity surged by 70% around Toronto Stadium, and for the June 20 match between Germany and Côte d’Ivoire, pedestrian and cycling activity increased by 140%.
City data indicated that traffic volume on expressways dropped by 10 to 30% on the three match days analyzed. However, a direct comparison with traffic data from past major events such as the 2015 Pan Am Games or the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series playoffs is pending, as requested by CBC Toronto.
Regarding public transit, TTC data for all six match days demonstrated a consistent pattern with the city data. Notably, on the opening match day on June 12, over 200,000 trips were recorded on routes servicing FIFA Fan Fest, representing a substantial increase from the previous year.
The success in promoting public transit use during the World Cup matches was acknowledged by Josh Colle, TTC’s chief strategy and customer experience officer, who emphasized the importance of accommodating both event attendees and regular commuters. The positive results were seen as a testament to the potential of efficient transit systems in the city.
Moreover, Bike Share data indicated a rise in overall usage during the World Cup period compared to the previous year, with significant spikes on match days. Around 2,000 rides were managed through Bike Share’s valet locations near Toronto Stadium for each match day, reflecting the popularity of cycling as a transportation choice during the event.
Transportation engineering expert Eric Miller praised the city’s coordinated efforts in implementing the World Cup transit plan smoothly. He emphasized the importance of applying the lessons learned from these special events to enhance daily transportation operations in the city.
In summary, the data highlights the positive impact of the World Cup on promoting sustainable and efficient transportation options in Toronto, underscoring the potential for long-term improvements in the city’s transit infrastructure.