June 7, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

Going to Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston for the FIFA World Cup games? Transit agencies in both regions are rolling out plans to accommodate hundreds of thousands of fans with increased rail and bus service.

In Houston you'll see more trains, more buses and extended hours of service across the entire system starting now through July 11. Metro Red Line trains will run every 6 minutes during peak times while Green and Purple lines will offer 12 minute service. Metro's Park and Ride will operate until midnight seven days a week. The host committee in Houston expects roughly half a million people to visit the city during the World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup games, held in 16 host cities across three countries, poses logistical challenges in expanding operations and managing the expected crowds.

Trinity Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) gave a preview today how tens of thousands of football fans will use public transportation starting Monday to get to and from Dallas Stadium, renamed from AT&T Stadium during the events. 

The pivot point will be CentrePort Station on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) where thousand each match day will arrive from Fort Worth Central Station and Dallas Victory Station to transfer to charter buses to the stadium for nine scheduled matches.

A massive tent complex has been set up at CentrePort Station to funnel game-goers to and from Dallas Stadium and to make sure they get on the right trains to Fort Worth and Dallas on their return. The station is located south of DFW International Airport near the Tarrant-Dallas County border. 

How will tens of thousands of fans, not accustomed to our ultra-hot summer weather, cope? Kayle Windsor with the North Central Texas Council of Governments explains that the transfer center will offer shade, misters, cooling stations, Tarrant County Health is talking about bringing out free water, and Fort Worth emergency management will be on site as well. Food trucks will be positioned nearby as well as the usual porta-potties. 

TRE trains will run every 30 minutes and can each hold up to 1,000 passengers in expanded four car trains. Windsor said "for each game we anticipate 10-12,000 people will take the TRE and use the transit system. Seventy percent from the east, 30% from the west." TRE trains will run on Sundays for the next four weekends. 

Game trains will start running five hours before each game, Dallas Stadium will open three hours ahead of the start and trains will run up to three hours after each event ends, according to Windsor.

“Plan to come early. Make sure you’re starting at Victory Station in Dallas or at Fort Worth Central Station in Fort Worth and get off at CentrePort. This is your stop. This is the only one that will have the charter buses (to take you to the stadium)", said Windsor. 

Signs in several languages have been posted at all TRE stations and multilingual volunteers will be available to direct visitors.  Newcomers are encouraged to download the GoPass app for ticketing and schedules for trains and buses. A spokesperson said additional charter buses and trains will be available if needed.

Transit officials are encouraging regular TRE travelers to work remote or postpone their trips on game days. However, there will be seats reserved on trains passengers who ride the system for their normal commute.

On game days, freight rail traffic that normally operates on TRE tracks between Fort Worth and Dallas, may be delayed, according to Michael Morris, Transportation Director for NCTCOG. He said that officials are working with Union Pacific and others to delay shipments of hazardous materials.

Photo credit: Texas Rail Advocates