Projects
NYNJ World Cup 2026
The Challenge
The World Cup 2026 presented one of the most complex transportation operations ever undertaken in the New York/New Jersey region. With planning beginning in August 2025, TMS was tasked with the end-to-end planning, design, and delivery of the NYNJ Host City Bus Service for eight matchdays at MetLife Stadium, including the Final. The operation required TMS to build a transportation network capable of moving up to 18,000 spectators per matchday from four origin locations across New York and New Jersey, including a Park & Ride location, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and high-traffic Manhattan street locations. Approximately one month before operations, the planned Stadium Shuttle capacity increased from approximately 10,000 to as many as 18,000 passengers per matchday, requiring TMS to rapidly scale fleet, staffing, site capacity, and operational infrastructure while maintaining the original delivery timeline. Beyond spectator transportation, TMS was responsible for VIP and volunteer shuttle programs, accessible transportation, ticketing and validation, temporary transportation hubs, passenger queuing and wayfinding, and 24/7 operational coordination. The program needed to scale alongside demand while navigating one of the country’s most complex transportation environments.
The Process
TMS developed an integrated transportation strategy that brought fleet procurement, staffing, technology, passenger management, accessibility, and real-time operations together under one coordinated program.
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Scalable Fleet
& Vendor Management
TMS created an operating model capable of scaling from approximately 150 buses to as many as 300 buses on peak matchdays. The team coordinated multiple transportation vendors and more than 300 drivers, aligning vehicle supply with ticket sales, demand forecasts, and live operational data.
- Multi-Location Transportation Planning
TMS designed and managed operations from 4 spectator origin locations across New York and New Jersey, along with 2 stadium bus mall locations. Detailed routing, traffic management, staging, loading, and passenger flow plans were developed for each location to support efficient ingress and egress.
- Staffing & Operational Readiness
More than 200 operational staff were recruited, trained, and deployed to manage passenger loading, ticket validation, wayfinding, dispatch, accessibility, and field operations. Clearly defined roles and centralized matchday command helped maintain consistency across a large and geographically dispersed operation.
- Demand Management & Technology
TMS integrated real time fleet tracking, digital ticketing, field communications, and operational reporting into one technology enabled model. Passenger demand, vehicle utilization, journey times, and operating conditions were continuously monitored to optimize service and ensure peak demand was cleared within planned operating windows.
- Accessibility
Accessibility was integrated directly into the transportation plan rather than treated as a separate service. TMS coordinated accessible vehicles and operated a dedicated golf cart service between the stadium bus operation and stadium entrances to improve mobility for guests requiring additional assistance.
- Continuous Improvement
Following each match, TMS evaluated passenger flows, bus cycle times, queue conditions, fleet utilization, and operational lessons. These insights were incorporated into subsequent matchday plans, allowing the transportation program to continuously evolve throughout the tournament.
The Results
106,000+ Passengers Transported
Transported more than 106,000 passengers, including 99,651 Stadium Shuttle passengers, approximately 1,200 VIPs, and approximately 5,600 volunteers.
18,000 Passengers in One Matchday
Scaled the Stadium Shuttle Service to accommodate as many as 18,000 passengers in a single matchday.
34,000 Service Miles
Delivered approximately 34,000 service miles across the Stadium Shuttle, VIP, and Volunteer transportation programs.
200+ Hours of Live Operations
Delivered 200+ hours of live transport operations and 25,000+ cumulative bus-hours across the tournament.
The Conclusion
TMS successfully delivered transportation operations across all eight NYNJ matchdays, including the World Cup 2026 Final, while adapting fleet and staffing levels to changing demand throughout the tournament.
The World Cup 2026 demonstrated TMS’s ability to design, build, and operate transportation infrastructure at the scale required for one of the world’s largest sporting events.
From the earliest stages of planning through the Final, TMS transformed a highly complex transportation challenge into a coordinated mobility program capable of moving more than 106,000 passengers across 8 matchdays. The operation brought together hundreds of buses and drivers, multiple transportation vendors, more than 200 operational staff, temporary transportation hubs, ticketing, accessibility, VIP services, and real-time command under one integrated strategy.
More importantly, the program demonstrated TMS’s ability to scale with demand, adapt between matchdays, and continuously improve operations based on real-world performance. The result was a transportation solution built not simply to move passengers, but to support the overall fan, workforce, and VIP experience at the World Cup 2026.
The NYNJ Host City Bus Service stands as a powerful example of TMS’s capabilities in mega-event transportation planning, fleet procurement, passenger movement, operational technology, accessibility, and large-scale event execution.