CHOKEPOINTS

Plan ahead: Tacoma roads to close for World Cup kickoff parade

Jun 11, 2026, 3:10 PM | Updated: 4:23 pm

The first 2026 FIFA World Cup match in Seattle will not be played until Monday, but the celebration begins Friday night in Tacoma — and drivers should expect significant road closures throughout the afternoon and evening.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians will host the World Cup kickoff parade at 7:30 p.m. The parade begins at 38th and East Portland Avenue and will travel approximately 1.5 miles to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Headquarters, where a welcoming ceremony will follow. A fireworks display is scheduled for 10:30 p.m.

Road closures in Tacoma will begin at approximately 2 p.m. and are expected to remain in place until about 11 p.m.

Streets closed

  • Portland Avenue between East 40th Street and East 29th Street.
  • East 38th Street between East L Street and Portland Avenue.
  • East 30th Street between Portland Avenue and East 29th Street.

Recommended detours

Northbound Traffic

East of Portland Avenue
East 64th Street → Waller Road → Pioneer Way

West of Portland Avenue
McKinley Avenue → Wiley Avenue

Southbound Traffic

East of Portland Avenue
Pioneer Way → Waller Road → East 64th Street

West of Portland Avenue
Puyallup Avenue → Pacific Avenue

East/West travel across Portland Avenue

Traveling westbound (east side to west side)
Roosevelt Avenue → East 44th Street → Portland Avenue

Traveling eastbound (west side to east side)
East 44th Street → Roosevelt Avenue

Both parking and “Fan Zone Express” bus service will be available at the Tacoma Dome and Pierce Transit stations.

Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.

Chokepoints

9th ave...

Chris Sullivan

SDOT plans to paint over Convention Center street art that won’t come off 9th Ave.

SDOT, which granted the Seattle Convention Center the permit to paint 9th Ave., now has a plan to fix the problem.

2 days ago

I-405 (2)...

Nate Connors

A full closure of I-405 will make for a rough weekend commute

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has scheduled a full closure of northbound I-405 between Renton and Bellevue.

2 days ago

road with paint seattle convention center...

Chris Sullivan

Seattle Convention Center paints itself into a transportation mess on 9th Ave

A Seattle Convention Center art event left a key I-5 access road covered in paint that can't be removed, and there's no timeline to reopen.

4 days ago

sb i-5 semi-truck backup...

Jason Sutich

All lanes of SB I-5 reopen near Ship Canal Bridge after semi-truck collision caused 7-mile backup

All lanes have been reopened along southbound I-5 near the Ship Canal Bridge after a collision involving a semi-truck.

5 days ago

bus crash light rail...

Jake Renn, KIRO 7 News

Link light rail train involved in crash with bus, trains delayed

Link light rail trains have been delayed this morning, Sept. 15, because of a crash with an empty school bus.

5 days ago

closures...

Nate Connors

Expect delays: WSDOT has a busy week of closures planned across the region

Most of this week's lane and ramp closures are a continuation of the region's pavement repair projects scheduled to wrap up in the spring of 2027.

5 days ago

Plan ahead: Tacoma roads to close for World Cup kickoff parade