ATLANTA, GA — The Peach State is gearing up to welcome soccer stars from across the globe as the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears this summer.
Two years ago, Atlanta United FC revealed FIFA tapped the City of Atlanta to host eight matches and a semifinal for the global tournament. Tickets for the event cost more than $2,000 per person, according to the FIFA website.
Georgia is banking on an economic investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars due to an influx of visitors and consumer spending.
With the popular event being weeks away, authorities and officials are busy preparing, including Atlanta Police and MARTA.
"Atlanta blends lush green neighborhoods with a fast-growing skyline, earning its nickname 'City in the Forest,'" read FIFA's host page for Atlanta. "... The venue will feature expanded fan zones, improved MARTA access and sustainability initiatives around the stadium district. Beyond the games, visitors can explore the Atlanta BeltLine, vibrant food halls, civil rights landmarks and year-round festivals."
RELATED: FIFA World Cup 2026 To Bring 8 Matches, Semifinal To Atlanta
According to stadium officials, 48 teams total will participate in 104 tournament-style matches across 16 cities nationwide.
The inaugural match will be held June 11 in Mexico City with the closing match scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to stadium officials and Atlanta United.
Spain, South Africa, Morocco and Haiti are among contenders that will play matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, starting on June 15.
The Atlanta schedule is as follows:
Last month, Atlanta United announced six of its players were called to join their national teams for various events, such as friendly matches and training camps.
The overall winner of the World Cup will receive $50 million and the tournament trophy. Lesser monetary prizes will be paid out through 48th place to total $655 million.
The FIFA Council said this is part of a record-breaking $727 million that will be distributed across the entire World Cup.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a news release.
This could potentially hold true in Georgia as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium houses both Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons.
The economic impact was inititally slated to sit at $415 million for Atlanta while the World Cup's total economic contribution was forecast at $5 billion, stadium officials said at the time of the announcement.
However, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta predicted in January that the international event will net more than $500 million in fiscal impact for Georgia.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber surmised there will be an estimated impact of $503.2 million. This is not more than Los Angeles' $594 million projection, but the chamber said Georgia still remains a top economic hub.
During a soccer game, the chamber said the Mercedes-Benz Stadium can hold 71,000 guests. Adding standing room capacity, and the chamber said 73,019 visitors could fit in the stadium.
The chamber estimated 65,000 spectators will attend each match. In total, at least 520,000 people are expected to attend the eight matches.
"This influx will benefit local businesses, hotels, restaurants and cultural institutions, while also accelerating urban development projects like Centennial Yards and expanding hospitality capacity downtown," the council said.
Overnight visitors may face "substantial" increases in hotel costs in Atlanta, but the chamber said that is to be expected.
In Decatur, city officials will host WatchFest 2026, a 34-day festival the city is hoping will attract visitors to downtown Decatur and connect residents to the FIFA World Cup.
Between the two events, a report stated Decatur stands to gain
between $62.6 million to $142.5 million in total spending, 475 to 1,139 new jobs,$2.4 million to $5.9 million in wages and $1.8 million to $2.6million in tax revenue.
The report was compiled by Dr. Thomas More Smith and Sylvia Davidovicz. Projections showed WatchFest and the World Cup would be beneficial for Decatur restaurants, alcohol sales, retailers, as well as hotels and motels.
The City of Marietta on Friday revealed SoccerFest '26 will be hosted June 12-14. The event will include a multi-day watch party at the Historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square, and soccer activities.
City officials say guests can partake in shopping and dining at one of the local businesses. These include Antiques on the Square, Park West Vintage, Australian Bakery Cafe and Bottega Market and Pizza.
Kids' Gateway to the Goal will offer interactive soccer activities and food trucks.
The schedule for SoccerFest '26 is as follows:
When officers are in the field, they are often accompanied by K-9 officers. But, for the World Cup, Atlanta Police has been training another set of four-legged animals.
The APD is ready to showcase their Mounted Patrol horses, which they have been preparing for the special day.
Training took place at the Georgia World Congress Center to mirror the area where the World Cup activities will be held, according to city officials. Previously, the Mounted Patrol performed joint rides with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office.
APD is hoping that riding horseback will aid them in quick responses.
“When we’re in a congested area or moving through parking lots and large gatherings, we can see over cars and over people’s heads,” APD Mounted Patrol Lt. Greg Lyon said in a news release. “It gives us a great vantage point to identify problems and respond.”
Beyond safety, Lyon believes the patrol can help create a welcoming experience in Atlanta.
“When people think about the World Cup and they see horses in a crowd environment, they see a big, bold, beautiful presence,” Lyon said in the release. “Our main goal is to be ambassadors of the city.”
MARTA, Atlanta's major transit system, is gearing up to transport both locals and tourists.
Buses and train stations will be wrapped in a soccer theme, and MARTA will offer pop-up merchandise and limited-edition Breeze cards for game day.
There will also be photo opportunities and watch parties for fans.
The city's StationSoccer initiative will use MARTA to bind soccer fields to establish a 10-station league accessible by transit.
According to officials, MARTA's Five Points station was utilized to launch StationSoccer and establish the world's first soccer field crafted inside a transit station in 2016. This has expanded to six stations.
"Your ride to the FIFA World Cup 2026 starts here," MARTA officials said. (See parking options here.)
RELATED: Game-Day Eats Top-Notch At This GA Stadium, Yelp Says
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has dozens of food vendors ready to serve hungry fans during the matches.
Whether guests have a taste for smoky barbecue, a salty pretzel, a juicy burger or a sweet treat, the options are plentiful at the Georgia stadium.
If you visit the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of these vendors may be worth a try:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Atlanta, GA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.