World Cup Planning Toolkit

Planned Special Events Portal

Toolkit for 2026 World Cup Mobility Planning 

Below is a collection of resources and tools to help transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) professionals plan for the 2026 World Cup. These resources come, in part, from a monthly call NOCoE hosts for the 11 U.S. cities hosting the 2026 World Cup, where the group shares resources and ideas for planning one of the worlds largest events. 

Additional resource links, guidance, and information will be continuously added through the World Cup in 2026 and for future planned special events. 

If you feel there is a resource that should be added or if you are looking for assistance with WC planning, please contact Adam Hopps.

World Cup Related News

FIFA Mobility Planning Information

"Transportation agencies began the event mobility planning well in advance to be considered a city candidate. Furthermore, by 2025, all host cities will have refined their mobility plans, and by January 2026, they will have finalized their plans for the June 11, 2026, start of the event."

 

Scenario Planning

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Planning Workshop emphasized the importance of developing contingency plans for weather, security, major traffic incidents, and event cancellations.

NOCoE Best Practices: Planned Special Event Management (p. 3) Initial planning activities include the identification of scenarios based on the specific event that could require changes to the overall traffic management plan and/or contingency planning - 



Multi-agency Coordination

FHWA Planned Special Events Capability Maturity Model:  The actions may require other agencies to be the responsible party, which is intended to foster multi-agency collaboration and dialogue about planned special events at the regional level. Users that take this assessment are encouraged to share this tool with agencies that they collaborate and work with on planned special events of their respective transportation systems.



Transportation Demand Management

NOCoE Best Practices: Planned Special Event Management (p. 4) A traffic management plan for a PSE addresses issues associated with traffic, parking, signal timing, public transit, ADA accessibility, and more to mitigate problems on the day of the event.



Community Engagement

NOCoE Best Practices:Planned Special Event Management (p. 3) "Michigan DOT outlined their successful public communications plans for the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk.”



Fans and FanFest

Pedestrian Movement and Crowd Control

NOCoE Best Practices: Planned Special Event Management (p. 3) Assessment of event-oriented risks, such as political demonstrations, fanbases, or crowd response needs.



Wayfinding and Signage

Transit and Ride Share

Parking

NOCoE Best Practices: Planned Special Event Management (p. 4) A traffic management plan for a PSE addresses issues associated with traffic, parking, signal timing, public transit, ADA accessibility, and more to mitigate problems on the day of the event.



Communications and Technology

Best Practices and Lessons Learned

FHWA Planned Special Event Publications

The following is a list of publications from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Planned Special Events program: 

 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Information for Transportation Agencies (PDF)

Tabletop Exercise Instructions for Planned Events and Unplanned Incidents/Emergencies (HTML, PDF)

National Special Security Events: Transportation Planning for Planned Special Events (HTML, PDF)

Planned Special Events: Cost Management and Cost Recovery Primer (HTML, PDF)

Intelligent Transportation Systems for Planned Special Events: A Cross-Cutting Study

Planned Special Events - Economic Role and Congestion Effects (HTML, PDF)

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events Handbook: Executive Summary (HTML, PDF)

Planned Special Events: Checklists for Practitioners

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events Fact Sheet (HTML, PDF)

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events Tri-Fold Brochure (HTML, PDF)

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events: First National Conference Proceedings

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events Handbook (HTML, PDF )