Pioneer Square Pedestrian Zone closing roads for World Cup. Here’s what to know
Taking your car to the FIFA World Cup in Seattle this summer? Don’t expect front-row parking.
Road closures surrounding Seattle Stadium, known locally as Lumen Field, will prohibit traffic in SoDo on match days. Public transportation is recommended for the estimated 750,000 fans attending six total matches in June and July, with plenty of expanded transit options for those in the South Sound.
Which roads are closed? Where can you take (and leave) your car? Here’s what to know.
PIONEER SQUARE PEDESTRIAN ZONE
The Pioneer Square neighborhood in Seattle will close to vehicles on match days, the city announced, creating a “Pedestrian Zone” for hundreds of thousands of anticipated visitors. The area, stretching from Pioneer Square down to T-Mobile Park along 1st Avenue South, remains open to everyone but people driving motor vehicles, the city said.
Traffic control begins four hours before the start of each match, ending roughly two hours after matches conclude. On-street parking will close at 2 a.m. on match days.
Bikes and scooters are permitted in the Pioneer Square Pedestrian Zone, though the city recommends walking them through densely-populated areas. Designated bike and scooter parking will be available, and an 8 mph speed limit will be enforced throughout the pedestrian zone.
All general admission World Cup ticket holders will enter Seattle Stadium from its north entrance, with lines expected to stretch into the Pioneer Square neighborhood.
Here’s a day-by-day schedule for road closures in the Pioneer Square Pedestrian Zone:
Monday, June 15: Belgium vs. Egypt, 12 p.m.
Closures: 8 a.m. until the event clears.
Friday, June 19: Australia vs. USA, 12 p.m.
Closures: 8 a.m. until 7:10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 12 p.m.
Closures: 8 a.m. until the event clears.
Friday, June 26: Egypt vs. Iran, 8 p.m.
Closures: 4 p.m. until the event clears.
Wednesday, July 1: Round of 32 (TBD), 1 p.m.
Closures: 9 a.m. until the event clears.
Monday, July 6: Round of 16 (TBD), 5 p.m.
Closures: 1 p.m. until the event clears.
A similar effort will be made at Pike Place Market, the city said.
WHERE CAN I PARK?
There is no publicly available parking at Seattle Stadium or on surrounding streets on match days.
For those hoping to snag a space in a downtown garage, plan ahead and book your reservation in advance.
Park and Ride facilities are available around the South Sound with connections on Sound Transit Link Light Rail (1 Line) and Sounder trains. Those east of Lake Washington can access the Stadium District with a recently-expanded 2 Line from Bellevue and Redmond.
This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Pioneer Square Pedestrian Zone closing roads for World Cup. Here’s what to know."
