As the world gears up for the most expansive FIFA World Cup yet, Atlanta stands ready to etch its name into soccer history. With less than a year until the tournament kicks off, the “soccer city of the South” is buzzing with anticipation.
The 2026 edition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an unprecedented 48 teams competing in 104 matches across 16 cities—a massive leap from the traditional 32-team format. Atlanta, with its vibrant culture, world-class infrastructure, and passionate fanbase, has secured a starring role, hosting eight high-stakes matches at the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A Historic Selection for the Peach State
Atlanta’s journey to becoming a host city began in 2018 when the United 2026 bid, led by the U.S. Soccer Federation, outshone Morocco’s proposal at FIFA’s Congress in Moscow.
Atlanta was selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 16, 2022, when FIFA announced the 16 host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The announcement was the culmination of years of work by the Atlanta Sports Council and other local organizations to bring the tournament to the city.
This marks the first tri-nation World Cup and the first expansion to 48 teams, promising even greater global excitement. Selected among 11 U.S. venues, Atlanta’s inclusion reflects its growing stature in international soccer, bolstered by the success of Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC, which draws record crowds to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The stadium itself is a crown jewel, designed with soccer in mind despite its primary use for NFL games. Opened in 2017, it boasts a retractable roof, 71,000 seats (expandable to 75,000), and cutting-edge features like a 360-degree halo video board.
FIFA has praised it as one of the few U.S. venues truly optimized for the beautiful game, having already hosted international friendlies and MLS clashes.
“Atlanta is honored to be among the host cities,” officials noted, emphasizing the city’s blend of Southern hospitality and urban energy.
The Match Slate: From Group Drama to Semifinal Thrills
While the official draw—set for late 2025—will reveal the teams, Atlanta’s schedule is locked in, spanning from mid-June to mid-July 2026. The tournament opens on June 11 in Mexico City, but Atlanta jumps in early with a flurry of group-stage action:
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | Group Stage |
| June 18, 2026 | Group Stage |
| June 21, 2026 | Group Stage |
| June 24, 2026 | Group Stage |
| June 27, 2026 | Group Stage |
| July 1, 2026 | Round of 32 |
| July 7, 2026 | Round of 16 |
| July 15, 2026 | Semifinal |
This lineup includes five group-stage thrillers, knockout clashes in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, and culminates in a semifinal on July 15—positioning Atlanta as a pivotal stop on the road to the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Fans can register now on FIFA’s official ticketing site, with hospitality packages already available for premium experiences at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Preparations: Building a World-Class Welcome
With the clock ticking, Atlanta is transforming to handle the influx of millions. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest, offers nonstop flights to over 150 domestic and 78 international destinations, ensuring seamless arrivals for global supporters.
A Construction Frenzy: Adding Thousands of Rooms Downtown
The most visible preparations involve a wave of high-rise hotel developments, strategically clustered near the stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, and attractions like the Georgia Aquarium. By mid-2026, downtown Atlanta will have added nearly 3,000 new hotel rooms—a 20% jump from 2022 levels—fueled by the tournament’s economic promise of over $500 million to Georgia’s economy. These projects are timed to open just before or during the event, ensuring availability for fans, teams, and media.Key developments include:
- Residence Inn by Marriott (355 Centennial Olympic Park Drive): This 14-story tower, owned by Texas-based Soneri Investment Group, broke ground after years of planning and will feature 188 guest rooms across its upper floors. Amenities include 129 parking spaces with EV charging stations, a street-level bar and restaurant, a pool deck, and a terrace overlooking the park. Located just a mile from the stadium, it’s designed for easy access to matches and is slated to open in time for the June-July tournament window.
- Signia by Hilton: Atlanta’s largest downtown ground-up hotel in four decades, Signia by Hilton, a htoel behemoth, delivered nearly 1,000 rooms earlier in 2025, providing a massive capacity boost right next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- Anthem Hotel at Centennial Yards: Part of a $5 billion mixed-use district linking the stadium to downtown, this 229-room property is on track for a 2025 opening, enhancing the area’s entertainment vibe with nearby retail and green spaces.
- Moxy Centennial Olympic Park: A 10-story, 183-room boutique hotel under construction along Marietta Street, set to debut in the second quarter of 2026—perfectly aligned with the World Cup schedule.
- Margaritaville Resort Condo by Wyndham Destinations: Already open since 2022 with 200 suites, this property exemplifies early movers capitalizing on the event’s momentum.
Beyond these, the revival of the former CNN Center—rebranded as The Center—promises an overhauled atrium, exterior facelifts, and massive art installations, all vowing to open before kickoff to revitalize the Peachtree Center area. These efforts are part of broader urban projects like Centennial Yards’ 8-acre entertainment district, which includes additional lodging to handle the surge.
Themed Upgrades and Fan-Focused Amenities
While new builds dominate, existing hotels are layering on World Cup-specific touches to stand out. At the Bellyard Hotel in West Midtown (a Marriott property), guests can already sip the “Offside Spritz,” a FIFA-inspired cocktail at the lobby bar Drawbar, signaling playful preparations for soccer enthusiasts.
Hyatt Place Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park rounds out popular options with its walkable location to key sites, though specific upgrades weren’t detailed beyond standard readiness.
Hotels across neighborhoods like Midtown and Buckhead are refreshing amenities, with new developments like the Centennial Yards complex set to open downtown just in time.
New Food Hubs and Expansions: Building Capacity Downtown
Downtown Atlanta is seeing a surge in dedicated food spaces timed for the event. In South Downtown, Atlanta Ventures is launching Smorgasburg Atlanta, an open-air food festival kicking off in October 2025 at a parking lot on 104 Forsyth Street SW, near MARTA stations.
Restaurateur and chef Khadijah Vickers opened The Vick in early September to put the eatery in the position to take advantage of 2026, which will be a big year for Georgia’s largest city.
“It may look like The Walking Dead right now,” she said, referring to the number of people downtown on a regular Wednesday evening, “but when the World Cup comes, this place will be jumping. And The Vick will be here.”
This weekly market will showcase over 40 local vendors, food trucks, pop-up tents, live entertainment, and kid-friendly play areas, with beer, wine, and cocktails on tap—applications for culinary spots are open now to lock in diverse offerings before the summer rush.
Nearby, Lalani Ventures is revitalizing Underground Atlanta with pre-World Cup openings on Upper Alabama Street. Highlights include Dolo’s Pizza expanding to a brick-and-mortar spot, the Underground Diner replacing a former crepe stand, and a six-stall food hall in the design phase, all slated to debut before June 2026.
Recent new Atlanta restaurant openings like Utopia, a Latin fusion restaurant that opened in April 2025, are already drawing crowds, with goals to double the area’s 1 million annual visitors. These hubs aim to handle overflow from stadium crowds, offering quick, affordable global bites amid the festivities.
Businesses are all-in: Restaurants are expanding menus with international flavors, retailers are stocking soccer gear, and transportation providers like MARTA are ramping up capacity.
“It’s like hosting multiple Super Bowls at once,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council. Safety, beautification, and cleanup efforts are underway, drawing lessons from past mega-events like the 1996 Olympics and the 2019 Super Bowl.
Final Word
Atlanta is getting FIFA-ready in a big way, from restaurants, infrastructure, hotels and more. The city is also curating fan zones and watch parties beyond the stadium, leveraging attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and the BeltLine for a festive atmosphere.
Atlanta United’s training facilities and the upcoming U.S. Soccer National Training Center will support team preparations, underscoring the city’s soccer infrastructure.
We love ATL. That’s why we’re showing you all the good things happening in the city each and every weekend. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown often has something cool going on! While it’s warm, take advantage of the outdoors. Don’t miss these awesome festivals.The fun is just starting. Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit a craft brewery in the city.
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