Atlanta World Cup Host Committee Partners | FIFA World Cup 26 Atlanta™

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THE EPICENTER
OF SOCCER

Atlanta is the Epicenter of Soccer in the United States:

The game of soccer in Atlanta has exploded in Atlanta over the past 10 years. Atlanta United launched as the most successful expansion franchise in the history of MLS since beginning play in 2017. The team holds nearly every attendance record and won every major trophy in the league (MLS CUP, Campeones Cup, and US Open Cup.) They reached 5 million fans faster than any club in the history of MLS and they are routinely ranked in the top 10-15 in soccer attendance globally.
U.S. Soccer is set to break ground on the first-ever National Training Center in 2024, which will be the new headquarters for all U.S. Soccer teams, coaches, referees, and players in Fayette County.
Atlanta was selected to host the prestigious opening match of the Conmebol COPA AMERICA tournament in the summer of 2024. Atlanta will host two matches in this tournament, one featuring the defending champions Argentina and the other with the U.S. National Team
Atlanta hosted the opening round of the SheBeleives Cup this spring, featuring the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Atlanta has hosted numerous international friendlies in the past 10 years featuring teams playing in World Cups such as the Mexican National Team Last Summer. Atlanta hosted the Premier League’s first-ever Summer Series matches in the U.S., with top EPL teams Newcastle and Chelsea participating.
Soccer in the Streets: Since the early 2000s, Soccer in the Streets has been focusing its efforts on low-income communities in Atlanta, GA. Today, SITS develops young leaders to lead rich lives and cultivate healthy communities through innovative sports-based youth development programs. Soccer in the Streets launched the award-winning initiative StationSoccer, the world’s first network of soccer fields located at major transit stations. StationSoccer has become a blueprint in Atlanta for addressing accessibility – both to fields and adequate transportation – by connecting soccer facilities at and through public transit. Like in years past, Soccer in the Streets is leading the way with ideas and solutions that reach kids who are often overlooked or under-resourced and kids are even growing things in community gardens through the Garden FC program. Today, Soccer in the Streets has come full circle and could roll out its model in more U.S. cities and connect the youth of America to the beautiful game of soccer.

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SPORTS

Sports:

Atlanta is home to five professional sports franchises Atlanta United FC (MLS), Braves (MLB), Dream (WNBA), Falcons (NFL), and Hawks (NBA). Two Division I NCAA programs are located in Atlanta Georgia State (Sun Belt Conference) and Georgia Tech (Atlantic Coast Conference).
Atlanta’s history includes hosting large-scale sporting events:
- 1996 Centennial Olympic Games
- Four NCAA Men’s Final Four tournaments – 1977, 2002, 2007 and 2013
- Three Super Bowl matchups – XXVIII (1994), XXXIV (2000), LIII (2019)
- College Football Playoff National Championship 2018 and 2025
- CONMEBOL Copa America 2024
- MLB All-Star Game—1972, 2000, and 2025

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FILM

Atlanta, nicknamed “Hollywood of the South,” is a leading city for film and television production, as Georgia offers one of the most competitive tax incentives in the country.
The largest Jewish film festival in the world, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, draws over 38,000 moviegoers annually, while BronzeLens Film Festival ranks in the top 3 percent of film festivals and creative contests in the world.
During fiscal year 2021, the film and television industry in Georgia set a new record with $4 billion in direct spending on productions in the state.
Georgia hosted more 2018 top box office earners than any other U.S. city.
The influx of film and television projects in Georgia catapulted the state to the No. 2 production location in the world, according to FilmL.A. In addition to the rise in production activity in Atlanta and the surrounding region, the area also serves as an incubator for filmmakers.
Feature films including The Blind Side, Flight, Identity Thief, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Mockingjay – Part 1, Sully, The Divergent Series, Hidden Figures, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Baby Driver, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War shot in Atlanta.

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MUSIC

The city was dubbed both the “hip hop center of gravity” by The New York Times and “the new cultural capital of America” by The Daily Beast.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, established in 1945, has earned 27 Grammy Awards.
More than 30 music festivals are held in metro Atlanta annually; AC3 Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Imagine Music Festival, Music Midtown, ONE Musicfest, Shaky Knees and SweetWater 420 Fest are among the largest.
Trap music became mainstream with rapper, T.I. who has since created the Trap Music Museum in Atlanta featuring, 21 Savage, Cardi B, Gucci Mane, Migos and Waka Flocka Flame. Other notable artists with Atlanta ties include Grammy Award nominees Janelle Monae and Lil Nas X.
The musical heritage of Atlanta includes many legends who made their careers in Georgia’s capital including Blind Willie McTell, Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Little Richard, Cee Lo Green, OutKast, Indigo Girls, Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood.

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BELTLINE

Walk, run, skate, bike or scoot your way through beautiful city trails that connect Atlanta’s intown neighborhoods and parks.
The BeltLine slogan is “Where Atlanta Comes Together,” and that couldn’t be any more true. Atlanta’s Southern hospitality shines as strangers become friends exploring the city together. Experience why the BeltLine is one of the largest urban revelopment and mobility projects in the United States.
The Southeast’s largest temporary public art project is all around you. Check out Art on the BeltLine as the public installations help to reclaim the 22 miles of unused rail. The beloved BeltLine Lantern parade, typically held in September, is a spectacular community event where beautifully decorated lanterns light up the trail for one evening.
Because you’re hungry. That’s right, hungry. Some of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants are situated right on the Atlanta BeltLine and have walk-up patios so you can enjoy the view while noshing on great food and drinks. Grab brunch at TWO Urban Licks or a latte at Ponce City Market.
There’s a skate park. For the young and the young at heart, the Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park is located right on the Atlanta BeltLine. The first public skate park in Atlanta, the facility offers something for riders of all skill levels.
The Atlanta BeltLine is extremely pet friendly. Bring your four-legged fur baby along while you explore Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods on the BeltLine. Fido will appreciate the exercise and you’ll love the company of your companion.

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TRANSIT

Transport:

Atlanta’s mass-transit system, MARTA, has more than 296 rail cars and 38 different station stops.
MARTA reduced emissions by 95% in 347 of its buses by using compressed natural gas.
More than 550 buses provide service along 1,439 miles of road on 101 routes.
There are three (3) MARTA stops within downtown Atlanta that provide guests access to downtown hotels, venues and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Airport:

Since 1998, Hartsfield-Jackson has been the busiest airport in the world for 23 out of 24 years.
Hartsfield-Jackson serves more than 150 U.S. destinations and more than 70 international destinations in 43 countries.
Hartsfield-Jackson averages 286,000 passengers a day.
On average, there are 2,100 arrivals and departures daily.
Atlanta is within a two-hour flight of 80 percent of the United States population.

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DINING

In the past five years, Atlanta chefs garnered more than 30 semifinalist nominations for James Beard Awards.
James Beard Award semifinalists for 2023 include Ticonderoga Club for Outstanding Hospitality for the second consecutive year; Lyla Lila for Outstanding Wine and other Beverages for the second consecutive year; Ronald Hsu and Aaron Phillips for Best Chef: Southeast; Deborah VanTrece for Best Chef: Southeast; and Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor for Best Chef: Southeast.
Esquire named St. Julep on its 2022 Best Bars in America list.
Staplehouse and Miller Union made The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Restaurants in America 2020 list, while OpenTable’s Top 100 Hot Spots in America for 2021 included Blue Ridge Grill and La Grotta.
WalletHub included Atlanta on its 2022 Best Foodie Cities list, scoring high for the diversity, accessibility and quality of the city’s dining scene.
Atlanta hosts more than 20 food festivals annually including Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp, Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival and Atlanta Street Food Festival

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ART

Atlanta boasts more than 50 visual art galleries and more than 30 playhouses and theatres.
The metro Atlanta region has more than 1,700 cultural non-profit organizations, generating more than half a billion dollars in economic activity.
Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood features the largest concentration of arts facilities and organizations in the Southeast, with 25 different arts and cultural venues, more than 30 permanent performing arts groups, and 22 various entertainment facilities.
Atlanta’s residing symphony, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, has won 17 Grammys, more than any other U.S. symphony.
Atlanta has two Smithsonian affiliates: Georgia Aquarium and David J. Sencer CDC Museum.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Atlanta Host Committee Partners