The opening weekend of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered historic moments on the pitch and significant transportation challenges on the roads surrounding host venues across the United States. With millions of fans traveling to matches, host cities experienced notable fluctuations in traffic conditions before and after kickoff. Using INRIX mobility data, we analyzed traffic performance within a one-mile radius of seven stadiums that hosted matches during the tournament’s first three days. The results reveal how event timing, venue location, and fan travel patterns influenced congestion levels, providing an early look at the transportation impacts of one of the world’s largest sporting events. June 12, 2026 – SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles, CA – 6:00pm Kickoff In the one-mile radius around SoFi stadium traffic speeds began to fall around 1:00pm, two hours before kickoff time. By the 3:00pm and 4:00pm hours, traffic had slowed about 20% versus normal Friday traffic, to 13.5 mph. Traffic speeds began to rise yet fell significantly after the event during the 8:00pm hour, when travel speeds plummeted 30% versus normal to 12.6 mph. Traffic recovered to normal around the stadium by the 11:00pm hour. June 13, 2026 – Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA (San Francisco) – 12:00pm Kickoff Levi’s Stadium hosted the noon kickoff for the first of three Saturday games in the United States, which caused traffic to slow 17% versus normal within a one-mile radius of the stadium during the 10:00am hour. Traffic pains eased only to significantly drop further to 23% by the 3:00pm hour, and by 6:00pm had fully recovered to normal. June 13, 2026 – MetLife Stadium – Newark, NJ (NY/NJ) – 6:00pm Kickoff Travelers to Metlife Stadium saw the biggest drop of all stadiums analyzed within one mile of the stadium before kickoff. During the 4:00pm hour, traffic