ATLANTA — Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) officials announced Friday that the agency has moved approximately 1.7 million riders since June 11 to support four FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and numerous related festivities, including nine FIFA Fan Festivals.
The figures highlight the critical role public transit has played in accommodating the massive influx of visitors during the tournament’s early weeks in Atlanta, one of the key U.S. host cities.
FIFA World Cup sees MARTA Record Ridership
The busiest single day occurred on Wednesday, June 24, during the Morocco vs. Haiti group stage match. MARTA recorded about 220,000 rail customers that day — roughly 2.3 times the number of riders on a typical weekday.
For context, MARTA typically sees around 95,000 to 205,000 daily rail riders on weekdays outside of major events.
Read our guide to riding MARTA.
“MARTA has transported approximately 1.7 million people to four World Cup matches, nine FIFA Fan Festivals, and events across the region,” the agency posted on X. Officials also noted that MARTA Transit Ambassadors have completed nearly 4,000 shifts, while hundreds of MARTA Police officers — supported by personnel from other agencies — have maintained increased patrols.
Atlanta has hosted several early group stage matches, including Spain vs. Cabo Verde (June 15), Czechia vs. South Africa (June 18), Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (June 21), and Morocco vs. Haiti (June 24). atlantafwc26.com +1The Morocco-Haiti contest drew particularly strong crowds, with fans packing trains and stations near the stadium. Pre-event planning emphasized “Let MARTA Drive” campaigns and expanded service to ease road congestion around Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
MARTA activated enhanced operations for the tournament, including more frequent trains, additional staffing, and shuttle services. The agency has encouraged fans to use transit to avoid traffic snarls, a strategy that appears to have paid dividends given the ridership numbers.
More World Cup action is on the horizon in Atlanta, with additional group stage matches and later knockout rounds scheduled through July.
Transit advocates and city officials view the strong early performance as a positive sign for MARTA’s ability to handle large-scale events, though some riders had raised pre-tournament concerns about capacity and safety.
MARTA continues to urge attendees to plan trips in advance via its app and website as the tournament progresses.
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