Sens. Moran, Cantwell Introduce Bill to Help U.S. Host Cities Bolster Local Infrastructure Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, 2028 & 2034 Olympics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) – members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation – introduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to provide federal funding for local communities to prepare for transportation demands and ensure the successful movement of fans, workers and goods during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2034 Winter Olympics that will all be held in the United States.

“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” said Sen. Moran. “Preparations are already underway for the games, and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”

“As we prepare to cheer on Team USA in the Paris Olympics, Seattle is looking forward to hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world for the 2026 World Cup,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Ensuring that fans get to and from games safely and efficiently will require coordinated transportation planning across the Pacific Northwest. This bill allows the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they prepare, so the best of America innovation and hospitality is on display.”

The United States, Canada and Mexico were selected to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, and 11 U.S. cities are preparing to host World Cup matches, including Seattle, Kansas City, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay Area. Transportation demands will increase greatly as host cities and surrounding communities are expecting hundreds of thousands of additional visitors from across the globe during the games. For example, Seattle is set to host six matches and estimates up to 750,000 people will visit the city over the 25-day event. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics. This week, it was announced that Salt Lake City was selected to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.

This legislation would create a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide states, cities and tribes with funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games. Grants would support permanent transportation projects – building new roads, expanding light rail, purchasing new buses, creating bike lanes, improving existing roads or highways or making airport terminal improvements. 

The Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act would:

• Provide resources to states, cities and tribes through grant funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games, which could include acquiring buses, improving airports or building roads.
• Allow DOT to provide technical and planning assistance to host cities, states and tribes within 100 miles of a World Cup or Olympic event to help improve coordination and prepare regional transportation systems for the influx of fans.
• Allow DOT to facilitate sharing public transportation equipment, such as buses, between host cities and other cities, helping reduce costs while meeting transportation demand.
• Direct the Department of Commerce to study the economic impact hosting the World Cup and the Olympics has on travel and tourism in the United States.

“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “Senator Moran continues to be a leader in transportation, mobility, safety and security in the Kansas City region. This legislation will give much needed support to our efforts to ensure safe and efficient transportation of people and goods throughout the region during the World Cup. More importantly, these investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

“I commend Senator Jerry Moran’s leadership, along with Senator Maria Cantwell, in introducing the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2024,” said Frank White III, CEO of Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. “Once enacted, this bill will provide important funding to help us prepare for the millions of international and domestic visitors who will come to Kansas City and other host cities for the 2026 World Cup. Supporting the mobility for these significant crowds will be an undertaking, but with partners like Senator Moran facilitating new resources from the U.S. Department of Transportation, we are confident in providing reliable transit options for our World Cup guests as well as the day-to-day riders of the RideKC system.”

“The USOPC is appreciative of the efforts of Senators Cantwell and Moran and strongly supports the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Host Cities Act of 2024,” said the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “As the United States prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, this legislation is a crucial step to enhance infrastructure and plan for the success of these global events on American soil. By providing essential transportation assistance, we strengthen our host cities’ capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to delivering world-class experiences that highlight the best of American hospitality and excellence.”

“We are excited for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to take place in the United States,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, President of the U.S. Soccer Federation. “We appreciate Senators Cantwell and Moran for introducing legislation to provide the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup matches, and the dozens more cities hosting team base camps, fan fests and other events and activities, with the resources they will need to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people that will travel here from around the world.”