Two More Seattle World Cup Matches This Week. Expect Bad Traffic

Seattle is halfway through its six-match World Cup run, with two more games this week that will test the region's patience again.

If you are anywhere near Seattle, Mercer Island, or the I-90 corridor on Wednesday or Friday this week, you need to know what is coming and plan before it hits.

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The good news is that the USA vs Australia match last week showed we can handle it. The bad news is that two more matches in four days means two more days of issues on some of the busiest roads in Washington state.

Two Matches at Seattle Stadium This Week, Wednesday and Friday

Wednesday, June 24, brings Qatar vs Bosnia-Herzegovina with a noon kickoff. Then Friday, June 26, brings Egypt vs Iran at 8 PM, a night match that will create a very different and likely longer-lasting traffic situation than the daytime games have produced so far.

Mark both of those on your calendar right now. Especially Friday evening. An 8 PM match means the pre-game traffic surge hits right in the middle of what would normally be a busy Friday drive time in Seattle anyway. That combination is going to be rough. Let's not even talk about the potential for traffic jams after the games are over.

Officials estimate that up to 750,000 visitors will pass through the Seattle region across all six matches combined.

USA v Australia: Group D - FIFA World Cup 2026 — Getty Images

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Fans enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Mercer Island Is Ground Zero for Traffic Impact

The City of Mercer Island has been one of the most detailed and transparent communicators about World Cup traffic impacts throughout the tournament, and this week is no exception. The city is urging everyone to use light rail as the primary option for getting to and from Seattle Stadium, and for good reason.

The Mercer Island Park and Ride will likely be full on both match days. Mercer Island Station, Town Center parking, and the Mercer Island Community and Event Center lot are all options. Still, the Community Center lot fills on a first-come, first-served basis starting four hours before match time.

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For the USA vs Australia match, the event parking rate at Town Center and the Community Center was $50 for non-residents.

Residents will need their driver's license verified at the Community Center lot to access free resident parking. Plan accordingly and arrive early, and even earlier than you think you need to.

If You Have to Drive Through Seattle, Read This First

All six World Cup matches fall on weekdays. Four of them are midday. The Ship Canal Bridge Preservation Project, also known as Revive I-5, has reopened all lanes through July 9 to help accommodate World Cup traffic.

That is good news for I-5 travelers.

Several local construction projects on Mercer Island are pausing work on match days to reduce traffic impacts. The King County Sewer Project on SE 36th Street near City Hall will continue with a single lane closure, and the Xing Hua development project on 78th Ave SE is not permitted to expand its current traffic footprint during the tournament.

If you must drive into Seattle on Wednesday or Friday, check WSDOT's travel cameras before you leave, and give yourself significantly more time than usual.

Have a backup plan if your preferred route is gridlocked.