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Everything you need for the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta — eight matches from June 15 to July 15, the best neighborhoods, MARTA tips, where to watch, and how to navigate a city expecting 300,000 visitors.
The U.S. men's national team announced its 26-player World Cup roster on May 26. With Atlanta hosting group-stage matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, here is who will take the field on home soil.
The building that housed CNN for decades reopened on May 21 as The CTR — a reimagined mixed-use landmark that will serve as Atlanta's official World Cup volunteer headquarters this summer.
Atlanta celebrated two major downtown milestones as Founders Green opened on Broad Street and the former CNN Center was rebranded as The CTR, both positioning South Downtown as a World Cup destination.
Atlanta is outperforming nine of eleven U.S. host cities in World Cup hotel bookings, with 213,000 room nights booked and 100% occupancy increases near Mercedes-Benz Stadium — even as 80% of hoteliers nationwide report bookings below forecast.
The 70,000-square-foot immersive venue will broadcast 40 World Cup matches on an 87-foot LED dome, opening June 10 as part of the $5 billion Centennial Yards entertainment district.
A temporary entertainment district from June 11 to July 19 permits open drinking near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, and World of Coca-Cola — the city's second open container initiative after South Downtown's permanent district.
The iconic chain is converting a display window at its downtown diner into a merchandise shop — T-shirts, hats, and branded gear for international soccer fans steps from the FIFA Fan Festival.
Richard Branson's Virgin Hotels makes its Georgia debut with a 14-story, 261-room luxury hotel at Centennial Yards — joining Cosm and Live Nation in the entertainment district, with a 2027 opening and Chops Lobster Bar on the ground floor.
Nearly 23,000 square feet of the former CNN Center — now rebranded as The CTR — will become the ATL Culture House during the World Cup, hosting eight days of live performances, art exhibitions, and youth workshops curated by more than 400 local artists.
The ATL Culture House will occupy nearly 23,000 square feet inside the former CNN Center during the World Cup, featuring performances, exhibitions, and vendors showcasing Atlanta's creative community.
From America's best soccer bar in Little Five Points to a Nordic-themed brewpub downtown, these eight metro Atlanta spots serve great food alongside the beautiful game.
With the World Cup less than 100 days away, Atlanta leaders laid out their preparation plans: a month-long traffic management program, expanded MARTA service, a FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park, and 500,000 expected visitors.
Showcase Atlanta launched grants up to $5,000 and loans up to $15,000 to help downtown small businesses prepare for the World Cup — plus a youth entrepreneurship accelerator with vendor licenses for the tournament.
CIM Group's transformation of the 50-acre Gulch into a mixed-use neighborhood is one of the South's largest construction projects — with Hotel Phoenix open, entertainment district rising, and thousands of apartments coming.
