Doug Roberson

Hosting two U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium won’t be a rehearsal for the eight World Cup matches coming this summer. That preparation is done. So when the U.S. hosts Belgium on March 28 and Portugal on March 31, organizers are confident that all aspects of hosting will run smoothly for both those games and the World Cup thanks to muscle memory built not just from the two previous international tournaments, but also the myriad events, sporting and otherwise, the city and stadium have hosted over the years.

Atlanta's biggest event of the decade is nearly here. Here's a roundup of World Cup events, great places to eat and drink, and more World Cup news to know.

When the Atlanta Chiefs began playing in Atlanta in the late 1960s, it wasn't typical to scout players from Africa or keep any statistics other than the final score. Then the Chiefs changed things.

A World Cup final watch party at Piedmont Park, additional days for the Fan Fest at Centennial Olympic Park, and events in South Downtown were among the updates provided on Thursday by the city’s stakeholders in the summer soccer tournament.

As Atlanta prepares to host eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the tournament represents both a major economic and cultural moment for the city and a milestone in America’s decades-long rise as a soccer nation.

June 2026 Archives

Proponents of legal sports betting say Georgia is leaving money on the table. Detractors say the associated social ills aren't worth the tax revenue.

Atlanta's Downtown fan festival brought in big crowds during the first two weeks of the World Cup.

'We're going to book multiple pieces of business out of this."

31 days. Eight matches. One changed city. Here's a recap of the World Cup in Atlanta, by the numbers.