The TTC says four World Cup matches in Toronto have driven some of its strongest ridership numbers of the year, with a recent survey showing the vast majority of customers feel safe riding the system during the tournament.
In a message posted Friday on the TTC's Coupler staff site, Chief Executive Officer Mandeep S. Lali said a survey of nearly 1,800 customers found that 91 per cent felt safe on the key tournament routes, while 92 per cent reported feeling safe across all routes. Overall customer satisfaction came in at 4.63 out of five across the network.
"That sense of safety drives choice. When customers feel safe, they choose transit," Lali wrote in the message, which was dated June 26, 2026.
The numbers back that up, according to the agency. On Saturday, June 13, the TTC recorded 1.09 million trips — its highest Saturday ridership of the year so far. Boardings on key FIFA corridors, including King, Dufferin, Bathurst, Harbourfront and Ossington, have risen 30 per cent on match days.
Staffing and safety measures in the spotlight
Lali said customers are seeing more staff across the network on match days, including Special Event Ambassadors, Special Constables and Provincial Offences Officers, along with the TTC's Core Response Unit. Behind the scenes, the agency's Transit Control and Emergency Operations Centre teams are working with City partners and emergency services to monitor conditions and respond quickly.
The TTC is also expanding the use of body-worn cameras for station staff. According to the CEO's message, the agency's own operational evidence and international research show the cameras reduce conflict, support better interactions and help prevent incidents from escalating.
Lali noted that recent changes to the Criminal Code through Bill C-14 extend legal protections to public transit workers while performing their duties, something he said reinforces employee safety across the organization.
TTC joins farewell for fallen constable
The message also paid tribute to Constable Marc Pinizzotto, a Toronto Police Service special constable who was killed in the line of duty. Lali said he joined representatives from the TTC Special Constables Service, along with Jamal Richardson, the acting executive director of Transit Enforcement and Fare Collection, in the procession and funeral service on June 24.
"On behalf of the TTC, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the Toronto Police Service Special Constable community," Lali wrote. He added that the TTC stands in solidarity with the Toronto Police Service and is grateful for its dedication and partnership in keeping the city safe.
The busy stretch is not over yet. Lali said the week ahead includes two more World Cup matches, the Toronto Pride Parade and other events across the city, and he urged staff to stay visible to customers, put safety first and keep looking for ways to improve the customer experience in real time.
"We are representing Toronto on a global stage," he wrote. "The way we show up now will shape how people experience this city and our system long after the final match."
