Streets will be closed and trains and ferries may be packed — but for Seattle locals, daily life must still go on when FIFA brings six World Cup matches to Lumen Field this summer.

Why it matters: The World Cup frenzy — while exciting for soccer fans and city boosters alike — will require Seattleites to make a few changes to their routines.

Catch up quick: World Cup matches are set to take place at Lumen Field (temporarily renamed Seattle Stadium) on June 15, June 19, June 24, June 26, July 1 and July 6.

State of play: Streets throughout the Pioneer Square neighborhood will be heavily affected, with on-street parking banned starting at 2am on match days.

• Those streets will be closed to traffic starting about four hours before each game and will reopen after each event ends, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Light rail stations will also be mobbed during peak times on game days, Sound Transit warns, with lines expected to last up to two hours after matches.

• That's despite Sound Transit planning to run trains more frequently.

Yes, but: A free waterfront shuttle will help transport people starting May 21. It will stop at the stadium, Seattle Center, Pioneer Square, Waterfront Park, the Chinatown-International District and Pike Place Market.

• The shuttle will run every 15 minutes most days, with service increasing to every 10 minutes on World Cup match days.
• Normal hours will run from 10am–10pm through Labor Day.
• King County Metro is also increasing service on bus routes to try to accommodate World Cup crowds.

What they're saying: "We're going to make it easy to get here — no cars required," Peter Tomozawa, CEO of the local World Cup organizing committee, said at a press conference Wednesday.

Between the lines: Ferry service isn't increasing — but Washington State Ferries plans to have two backup vessels ready in case of breakdowns, John Vezina, the agency's deputy assistant secretary, recently told TVW.

• The ferry system will also boost staffing on vessels and at terminals to help keep things running smoothly, Vezina said.

What's next: Work on the Interstate 5 Ship Canal Bridge project will pause for the World Cup, with all freeway lanes reopening from June 8 to July 10.

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📉 Washington state now ranks second in the nation for tech layoffs, adding fresh pressure to the region's job market. (KUOW)

🏗️ The Seattle City Council repealed a law that would have allowed housing in the Sodo neighborhood near the stadiums, reshaping plans for future development there. (Seattle Times)

🎉 Seattle's waterfront will host a first-of-its-kind floating soccer stage in Elliott Bay during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, turning Pier 62 into a hub for watch parties, cultural events and community soccer activities. (KIRO)

If you love spirits, your biggest problem when visiting Canon will be deciding what to order first.

• The small bar in Seattle's Capitol Hill boasts a 186-page spirits list — more than 4,000 bottles — in addition to a renowned menu of creative cocktails.

The vibe: Inside, warm lights glint off an intricate tin-tiled ceiling, illuminating floor-to-ceiling shelves of sparkling bottles.

It's the perfect place to drop some money on an expensive dram of scotch —although they also offer plenty of $10 pours.

• You'll find yourself in a celebratory mood as you clink glasses over the mahogany bar.

If you go: Canon is mostly for small groups of walk-ins. This allowed my mom and me to easily find a spot at 8pm on a Saturday last weekend — our preferred way of celebrating Mother's Day.

Yes, but: They enforce a strict four-person limit per group, which has attracted some negative reviews on Yelp.

• Keep your party small and don't try to beat the system, and you'll be in for a great night.

Stop by: 928 12th Ave., Seattle.

• Open Wednesday through Sunday, 5pm to at least midnight.

Tell a spirit lover