ATLANTA — Thirty years after hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics, the world stage is once again set in Atlanta.
Eight matches of the 2026 World Cup, including the semi-finals, will be held in Atlanta. Dates are set for June and July 2026.
“It was a home run,” Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso said. “For our community, for our state, to have eight games and the semifinals included in those eight games, you can’t get a better result.”
A year later, FIFA awarded bids to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
It all started in 2017 when North America bid to host the 2026 World Cup.
Atlanta learned it would host part of the soccer tournament in 2022, but it wasn't until the weekend that the city learned how many games would be played here.
Atlanta is one of 16 North American cities hosting signature events in the world's most popular sports.
Corso said Atlanta is poised to host world-class sporting events this year.
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“We're on the world stage every day,” he said. “We are an international city. We have an airport that connects us to the world. We have companies and brands from global companies that call Atlanta home.”
Games in Atlanta are scheduled for June 15, June 18, June 21, June 24, June 27, July 1, and July 7, with the semifinals scheduled for July 15. has been done.
Tickets are expected to go on sale in September 2025. Corso likens it to his eight Super Bowls being held in one month.
He said Atlanta has a first-class venue, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the game will be held.
“It starts at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the best venue in the world,” he said. “This club is built for football, for international football which is very important, and one of the best franchises in football is playing there.”
He released a written statement Sunday, referring to Atlanta United, owned by Arthur M. Blank:
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup will unite people across borders, making this tournament an unforgettable journey for fans around the world.”
Corso said work has now begun to prepare the stadium and city for this international event.
For example, the stadium's grass is scheduled to be removed in early 2026.
“FIFA is working with us and other cities on a plan,” he said. “They're going to be very involved in that, so we're going to work closely with them and also find opportunities to collaborate with other cities.”
He said it's difficult to estimate the economic impact the games will have on metro Atlanta.
A lot of that will depend on which countries compete in the city, he said.
“Obviously we want the U.S. national team to get here,” he said.
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