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Miami Beach will provide football fans with an expanded, completely free water taxi service during the weekend of the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals, as part of a transportation plan aimed at preventing the traffic congestion expected in the city.
The service, which usually operates only from Monday to Friday, will exceptionally extend its hours on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., to coincide with the third-place match and the grand final of the tournament.
The vessels —approximately 12 meters long and capable of carrying up to 55 passengers per trip— will cover the route between Venetian Marina in Miami and Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Miami Beach, crossing Biscayne Bay in about 20 minutes without relying on road traffic or drawbridges.
The mobility plan goes beyond water. Free buses departing every 15 minutes will connect Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, the parking lot on 41st Street with Pine Tree Drive, and the Miami Beach Bandshell, the venue for official public parties, so that those arriving by water taxi can continue their journey without the need for a private vehicle.
For those who prefer to arrive by car, authorities have set up a parking and shuttle system that will provide free buses every 10 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., connecting the Miami Beach Rowing Club, the new parking on 67th Street, and the Bandshell.
An additional route will cover the parking areas located between 83rd and 85th Streets.
The free water taxi is a permanent service launched in January 2026 that replaced a pilot program which had a cost ranging from five to twelve dollars.
The Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale LLC operates with an estimated annual budget of 1.2 million dollars, financed equally by the city and a state grant.
The operation is part of Miami-Dade's preparations to welcome between 750,000 and one million visitors during the World Cup festivities, for which the county has allocated 46 million dollars for transportation infrastructure improvements.
While the grand final will take place on Sunday, July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Miami Beach will host a free public party at the Sand Bowl, behind the Miami Beach Bandshell, at 72nd Street and Collins Avenue. The gates will open at 1:00 p.m. and the match will start at 3:00 p.m.
On Saturday the 18th, the same venue will host the broadcast of the third place match, with doors opening at 3:00 p.m. and starting at 5:00 p.m.
Entry to the Sand Bowl is free, although the authorities recommend registering in advance at miamibeachbandshell.com, as those who reserve will have priority access over the general public.
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