Atlanta and other World Cup host cities have had seven years to speculate on which international soccer stars would come to town in 2026. That wait ended when FIFA unveiled the first seven countries destined to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in June, giving state and city leaders new context on how to cater to each team's traveling fan base — from working-class supporters to royalty and corporate leaders.
Spain, the world's top-ranked team, will play at least twice in Atlanta. The other six confirmed teams are Morocco, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Cabo Verde and Haiti. Katie Kirkpatrick, Metro Atlanta Chamber president and CEO, said: "Now that we know more of the teams coming to Atlanta, we are starting to move from planning in the abstract to talking about real nations, real fan bases and real opportunities."
Pat Wilson, Georgia's top economic development official, compared the tournament's potential to the 1996 Olympics, expressing confidence that visitors who experience Georgia's hospitality will return — bringing families, friends, and new business investment. Spain alone exchanged approximately $1.7 billion in goods with Georgia in 2024, more than double the trade figures for South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Jonathan Hunt, interim MARTA general manager and CEO, emphasized that the agency will need to prepare for multiple languages as international crowds grow through the later rounds in July. Meanwhile, Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, said venues will offer concerts on non-match nights tailored to visiting audiences, with Hartsfield-Jackson's status as the world's busiest airport making Atlanta an ideal hub for fans attending games across the country.
Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera, a Madrid native, celebrated Spain's selection: "Nothing comes close to the World Cup in terms of mobilizing a global audience around a single event." State and city leaders alike emphasized unified preparation efforts to extend hospitality to all visitors.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution