Atlanta is putting the finishing touches on Mercedes-Benz Stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where it will host eight matches, including a semifinal on July 15. City and tournament officials expect the games to generate more than $500 million in economic impact across the region.
The most visible change inside the stadium is the playing surface. As required by FIFA, the venue has replaced its artificial turf with a natural grass pitch, one of several modifications made to bring the indoor stadium up to World Cup standard for the global tournament.
Atlanta's group-stage slate begins on June 15 with Spain against Cape Verde, followed by Czechia versus South Africa on June 18, Spain versus Saudi Arabia on June 21, Morocco against Haiti on June 24 and DR Congo versus Uzbekistan on June 27, before the schedule builds toward the semifinal.
A free FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park will anchor the public celebrations, with watch parties, concerts, cultural events and interactive attractions running through the tournament for fans without match tickets.
For the first time in World Cup history, every host stadium will feature dedicated sensory-inclusive spaces, the product of a partnership between FIFA, Hisense and the nonprofit KultureCity. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has unveiled a new mobile sensory room designed to support fans who may experience sensory overload during large events.
Security planning has drawn on Atlanta's experience hosting the 2019 Super Bowl, with a secured perimeter around the stadium and aerial patrols expected on match days. Transit agency MARTA, anticipating heavy ridership, is introducing a tap-to-pay fare option and stationing volunteers across its network to guide passengers.
Atlanta is one of 11 U.S. host cities for the 48-team tournament co-hosted with Mexico and Canada, and its eight-match allocation, capped by a semifinal, is among the largest in the country. The run of fixtures positions the city as a hub deep into the knockout rounds.
With the opening match in Mexico City on Thursday, Atlanta's preparations are entering their final phase as organisers shift from construction and stadium conversion to welcoming the crowds expected to fill Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the surrounding downtown.