The TTC has wrapped up its FIFA World Cup 2026 operations, calling the tournament a success after carrying 3.6 million event-day trips on key routes with no major incidents or service delays on match days.

The agency officially concluded its tournament operations on July 19, according to a message from TTC Chief Executive Mandeep Lali published July 24. He said the results show the commission delivered on its commitments "when we come together as One TTC."

This shows that when we come together as One TTC, we can do incredible things, including delivering world-class service for a world-class event.

Strong results during the tournament

Between June 10 and July 11, the TTC recorded 3.6 million event-day trips on key routes. Customer satisfaction during the tournament hit 91 per cent, while 92 per cent of customers surveyed reported a sense of safety.

Lali said the achievements were recognized by the TTC Board at its recent meeting. He credited visible support for creating customer confidence and said preparedness paid off throughout the tournament.

The TTC chief also pointed to partnerships as a key factor. RapidTO corridors, transit priority measures and the deployment of traffic agents helped improve service, he said, adding the TTC must continue working with the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Service to build on that success.

Real-time updates through the TTC's e-ink screens and customer insights from the Transit App helped the agency understand and meet customer needs, according to the message. Lali said the ability to respond quickly to changing conditions helped keep Toronto moving.

Call for sustained investment

Lali cautioned that the enhanced service delivered during the tournament was made possible by dedicated funding and resources, and that maintaining that level of service for everyday customers will require sustained investment.

He said the tournament demonstrated the value of data-driven decision making and of using pilot projects to prove what works before scaling it across the system.

New streetcar enforcement pilot

One of those lessons is already being put into practice. On July 20, the TTC launched the Streetcar Passing Automated Enforcement Pilot, which equips a limited number of streetcars with cameras to better understand the scope of illegal passing across the network.

Passing a streetcar with its doors open is already illegal, but Lali said enforcement remains challenging. Information gathered through the pilot will inform future safety, enforcement and public education efforts aimed at protecting customers as they board and exit streetcars.

Staff recognized

Lali thanked TTC staff for the tournament effort, saying the World Cup's success was built on employees who took ownership, worked together and kept customers at the centre of every decision.

He also encouraged staff to nominate colleagues for the Hubbard Award for Leadership, which honours Frederick Langdon Hubbard, the TTC's first Black Board Chair, and recognizes people who have a meaningful impact on the organization. Nominations are open until July 31.