On December 5, the draw for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 was conducted, informing host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico of which teams they will host when the marquee tournament kicks off on June 11.
Running through July 19, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition of the tournament ever, with an unprecedented 48 teams participating.
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These teams will be divided into a 12-group preliminary stage and spread across 16 host venues.
One such host city is Atlanta, where the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium will stage eight games, the joint most of any host city, including round-of-32, round-of-16, and semi-final action.
The list of teams confirmed to be competing in Atlanta already includes the likes of European champions Spain, which will play two games in the city, and with a knockout stage hosting also secured, even more high-profile nations may descend on the city.
For the city of Atlanta, this major commitment serves as the latest validation of its hosting capabilities. Since the completion of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017, the venue has hosted the 2019 Super Bowl (and will host the showpiece game again in 2028), the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2018 and 2028, numerous soccer international friendlies, and six games at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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By GlobalDataAtlanta boasts the eighth-largest metro area by population in the US, and in recent years has been centered as the home of US Soccer, thanks in part to investment in the national body by local businessman Arthur M. Blank, who owns the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
With this in mind, it is natural to see why Atlanta has been tapped to play such a big role. However, with even larger cities such as Chicago (third overall) stepping out of hosting contention altogether, citing the high costs and questionable benefits, why has Atlanta staked so much on the FIFA World Cup, and what will it cost?
Speaking to Sportcal, Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee, discussed exactly why the city is ready to take a starring role at the 2026 World Cup, how the tournament burden is unlike any other, and what factors have to be considered to stage such an event.
With less than a year to go, what are the most important aspects of preparing Atlanta to host the World Cup that still need to be completed?
Corso: “Following the final draw on December 5, we now know which nations will be coming to play in Atlanta and the specific group stage matchups. This milestone has set the stage for the competition itself and allows us to begin planning for operational logistics based on the confirmed teams and schedule.
“We’re thrilled to host Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Haiti, and Uzbekistan in Atlanta for group stage matches. We're also looking forward to play-off tournaments in the spring to determine the final two teams that will join us in Atlanta.
“Our other top priorities include coordinating closely with our local partners on security protocols and transportation logistics, completing our volunteer recruitment and training programs – we'll need thousands of trained volunteers to deliver the world-class experience Atlanta is known for. Third, we're finalizing our FIFA Fan Festival site activation and preparing an incredible celebration of soccer for fans, regardless of whether they have tickets to a match or not.
“Atlanta is no stranger to major events, but the scale of the World Cup requires us to amplify everything significantly. Our collaborative effort and unified approach with our stakeholders continue to be our competitive advantage as we move into this final stretch.”
What logistical issues do you need to consider when hosting major events like this?
“Logistics for the FIFA World Cup are complex, but we are confident in our experience and partners to execute seamlessly. For example, with transportation, we’re working with MARTA – our public transit system – which connects directly to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the surrounding area.
“We're managing accommodations for tens of thousands of international visitors and coordinating with hotels across the state. Security coordination involves federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working in parallel.
“We are also ensuring our city can handle the massive influx while maintaining normal operations for residents. Our downtown connectivity with the stadium, integrated into our convention center, entertainment districts, and hotel infrastructure, gives us a significant advantage."
What makes Mercedes-Benz Stadium such a strong hosting venue?
“While Mercedes-Benz Stadium won’t be used for programming outside of World Cup matches because it remains fully focused on operations for an event of this caliber, it is a world-class venue that offers an unmatched fan experience for the FIFA World Cup.
“It consistently ranks at the top of the NFL’s Voice of the Fan surveys, including #1 in Overall Gameday Satisfaction, and leads categories such as food and beverage, family-friendly entertainment, and stadium technology.
“From an operational and sustainability standpoint, Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the first professional sports venue in the U.S. to earn LEED Platinum certification and features extensive sustainability initiatives, including zero-waste operations, energy optimization, on-site solar generation, water conservation systems, and robust recycling and composting programs.
“With excellent MARTA access and a proven record of delivering major events, Mercedes-Benz Stadium offers an ideal platform for expanded World Cup programming that benefits teams, fans, and partners alike.”
What feedback about Atlanta's preparations have you received from sponsors and prominent stakeholders?
“We’re thrilled to have such incredible local sponsors on board as part of our preparations. The Atlanta World Cup Host Committee has secured five premier Georgia-based companies as Host City Supporters: Cox Enterprises, Georgia-Pacific, The Home Depot, Southern Company, and NAPA Autoparts. Together, these organizations are committed to creating world-class experiences that highlight Atlanta’s culture, innovation, and hospitality.
“These partnerships are intentionally designed to create authentic Atlanta experiences that elevate the fan journey and support teams with the world-class service they expect, all while delivering meaningful value to our stakeholders and everyone who wants to contribute to Atlanta’s success as a host city.”
How big do you think the fiscal benefit will be to the city from hosting the event, and how do you quantify its success?
“We're projecting over $500 million in economic impact for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. This analysis only accounts for direct spending by out-of-state attendees, which includes accommodations, dining, transportation, retail, and entertainment. But success goes beyond just the immediate economic impact.
“We measure success through several lenses: international media exposure that elevates our global profile, the strengthening of our sports tourism infrastructure, and the long-term business relationships and investment opportunities that emerge when the world's attention is focused on Atlanta.
“Additionally, we look at community engagement. The intangible benefits, such as civic pride, global brand enhancement, and positioning Atlanta for future major events, are equally important. The 1996 Olympic Games transformed Atlanta, and the World Cup represents another generational opportunity to feature our city's evolution.”
In terms of sponsors, what sort of inventory do you offer beyond what is already tied up by existing FIFA sponsors?
“While FIFA controls the primary commercial rights and global sponsorship categories, as a host city, we offer a curated set of locally managed sponsorship opportunities through the Host City Supporters Program. These opportunities are structured to complement rather than compete with FIFA's Partner and Sponsor rights.
“The exact inventory varies by host city, but for us, it is designed to align with FIFA’s guidelines while also reflecting Atlanta’s vision for the tournament.
“This approach creates a cohesive ecosystem where global FIFA sponsors and local Atlanta supporters can each activate meaningfully within their respective spheres, enhancing the overall experience for fans and the community.”
How do existing FIFA World Cup sponsors, such as AB/Inbev, Coca-Cola, or Visa, factor in to preparations? How do they interact with the city?
“These global FIFA partners are absolutely critical to preparations for the entire tournament, and having Coca-Cola headquartered here in Atlanta gives us a unique home-field advantage, strengthening the connection between global partners and the local community.
“These partners typically engage through multiple channels: they participate in planning committees, provide in-kind services and products, activate their brands at the FIFA Fan Festival and throughout the city, and leverage their global networks to promote Atlanta as a destination.”
How did the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup hosting experience prepare Atlanta to stage the World Cup?
“Atlanta was proud to be a host city for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. It is a testament to the hard work of our city and community partners and was an opportunity for our city to showcase its passion for the sport. Across six matches, including marquee games featuring PSG, Chelsea, Inter Miami, and Manchester City, Mercedes-Benz Stadium delivered an exceptional experience.
“More than 250,000 fans attended, with an average of 38,000 per match – well above the tournament average – and Atlanta earned praise for its infrastructure, advanced stadium technology, climate-controlled environment, and the successful installation of a grass pitch to not only FIFA standards, but to the satisfaction of coaches and players.
“Fans generated a vibrant atmosphere, and local and national media coverage emphasized Atlanta’s ability to host global events and the city’s profile as the epicenter of soccer.
“While the Club World Cup was distinct from the scope of the FIFA World Cup, it provided valuable experience within FIFA’s event framework. It allowed us to observe and refine operations, strengthening collaboration among city agencies and partners. These insights have been integrated directly into our 2026 planning, enhancing Atlanta’s readiness to deliver a world-class FIFA World Cup experience.”
How can the 2026 World Cup affect Atlanta's reputation as a sports hosting destination for future events?
“The World Cup is an opportunity to elevate Atlanta’s global profile and reinforce our standing as one of the world’s premier host cities. Atlanta has a long history of delivering major events – from the 1996 Olympic Games to Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football Playoff National Championships, international friendlies, and the FIFA Club World Cup – with more in the pipeline.
“Atlanta is actively bidding to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031, further demonstrating our ambition and commitment to being a global sports hub.
“The FIFA World Cup brings an entirely different level of global visibility. Billions of viewers tune in to watch from around the world, giving us unparalleled exposure to showcase our innovation, cultural diversity, and the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Delivering a world-class World Cup experience will significantly strengthen Atlanta’s credibility with international federations, rights holders, and event organizers. It demonstrates that our infrastructure, operational expertise, and collaborative governance model can support the world’s largest events.
“The excitement generated by local and visiting fans, paired with strong global media attention, will amplify Atlanta’s reputation as a vibrant, reliable, and innovative host city, positioning us as a leading contender for future FIFA events and other major events.”
