Your Official-Unofficial Local Guide
ATLANTA WORLD CUP GUIDE 2026
The World Cup is coming and this city is more than ready. From the best food and drink spots near Mercedes-Benz Stadium to navigating the city on MARTA, we've put together everything a visiting fan needs to know. Whether you're here for one match or the whole run, consider this your local insider's guide to experiencing Atlanta like a pro.
Plan ahead accordingly
SURVIVE THE MATCH DAY
Atlanta will be electric, but it can also be chaotic if you don't plan ahead. From navigating MARTA to avoiding stadium traffic and finding the best pre-game spots, this guide helps you experience the match like a local instead of a stressed tourist.
01
Take MARTA, not Uber
The World Cup is coming to Atlanta and this city is ready. From the best spots near Mercedes-Benz Stadium to getting around on MARTA, we've got everything a visiting fan needs.
02
Arrive 2 Hours Early
Gates open 2 hours before kickoff. Security lines get long fast. The Castleberry Hill neighborhood right next to the stadium has great pre-game bars and restaurants within walking distance.
03
Eat Before You Go In
Stadium food is expensive. Load up at No Mas! Cantina, The Food Shoppe, or one of the Castleberry Hill spots before entering. All within 10 minutes of the stadium on foot.
04
Beat the Heat
Atlanta in June–July is hot and humid (85–95°F). Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a retractable roof, closed during daytime games. Hydrate, wear light clothing, and carry sunscreen for outdoor fan zones.
05
Cash + Cards Both
Most Atlanta spots are card-only but street vendors and some food stalls near the stadium are cash. Carry both. Exchange money before arriving. Few currency exchange spots are conveniently located.
06
Download the Apps
MARTA's Breeze Mobile app, Google Maps in offline mode, and a rideshare app as backup. Download before you land. Airport Wi-Fi is slow and you'll need directions immediately.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
ATLANTA MATCHES
Atlanta hosts 8 matches: 5 group stage games, 1 Round of 32, 1 Round of 16, and a Semifinal on July 15. The biggest soccer event in history, right here in the ATL.
GROUP STAGE
5 Matches - Jun 15 - 27
match 14
jun 15 12:00pm et
Spain
La Roja · 2010 Champions
vs
CABO VERDE
First World Cup
group h
match 25
jun 18 12:00pm et
CZECHIA
Euro 2020 Quarterfinalists
vs
SOUTH AFRICA
Bafana Bafana
group a
match 38
jun 21 12:00pm et
Spain
Feat. Lamine Yamal
vs
SAUDI ARABIA
Beat Argentina in 2022
group h
match 50
jun 24 06:00pm et
MOROCCO
2022 Semifinalists · Atlas Lions
vs
HAITI
Les Grenadiers · CONCACAF
group c
match 72
jun 27 07:30pm et
UZBEKISTAN
First-Ever World Cup
vs
CONGO DR
Les Léopards · AFCON Semifinalists
group k
ROUND OF 32
Match 80 · Knockout
Jul 01 tba
1L
Group Stage Leader
vs
3rd Place
Best 3rd · Groups E/H/I/J/K
ROUND OF 16
Match 95 · Knockout
Jul 07 tba
W86
Winner of Match 86
vs
W88
Winner of Match 88
SEMI-FINALS
Match 102 · Knockout
Jul 15 tba
W99
Winner of Match 99
vs
W100
Winner of Match 100
8
Total Matches
6+
Nations
1
Semi-finals
Watch the world together
WHERE THE CITY WATCHES
Not everyone has a ticket, but everyone's invited. Atlanta turns into one giant viewing party this summer. One official FIFA Fan Festival downtown, plus neighborhoods across the city throwing their own takeovers. Free screens, cold drinks, 32 flags flying over the ATL.
FIFA FAN
FESTIVAL™
Centennial Olympic Park · Downtown
The big one. FIFA's official fan festival takes over every inch of Centennial Olympic Park, 21 acres of free footballing chaos less than 10 minutes on foot from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The only spot in the city where match-day atmosphere spills directly out of the stadium. If you're in Atlanta for the Cup and not at a match, this is where you go.
The Playground
Kids activations, skill challenges, football games for families.
The Pitch
Community stage, podcasts, AR/VR football experiences.
Georgia Street
Regional artists, local food vendors, merch.
The Main Stage
Giant-screen matches, pre-match shows, concerts.
Neighborhoods throwing their own party
The unofficial lineup
WatchFest '26
Decatur Square
Decatur doesn't do anything small. The city is throwing a 34-day festival on the newly renovated Square, with outdoor screens for every match, nightly concerts, rotating food trucks. Ten minutes from Downtown on MARTA. The best non-stadium option in metro Atlanta.
Big screen: full LED wall facing the square
Concerts: local bands + DJs every night
Food & drink: food trucks + Decatur restaurants
Kick It in the 'Nett
Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County is throwing free community watch parties across four venues for select matches, from Gwinnett Field (formerly Coolray) to Suwanee, Peachtree Corners Town Center, and Lillian Webb Park in Norcross. Big screens, local energy, no cover.
Jun 15: Gwinnett Field · Spain vs. Cabo Verde
Jun 27: City of Suwanee · Congo DR vs. Uzbekistan
Jul 7: Peachtree Corners · Round of 16
Jul 15: Lillian Webb Park, Norcross · Semifinal
District Atlanta
Buckhead · Armour Yards
Atlanta's largest nightclub is going all-in for the World Cup. A 30-foot LED wall, stadium-grade sound, four premium bars, and kinetic lighting for every match. Corporate hospitality packages, VIP tables, and private event spaces available. Stadium production without the stadium.
30ft LED wall: multiple screens throughout
VIP & tables: reservations recommended
Match dates: Jun 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 · Jul 1, 7, 15
1
Official Fan Fest
3+
Unofficial Hubs
38
Days of Football
Using transportation
GETTING AROUND
Atlanta's transit system unlocks the entire guide. Know how to move and you'll eat better, drink better, and never get stuck in post-match gridlock.
MARTA
$2.50
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Key Stops for World Cup Visitors
Get a breeze card - $1
Buy at any MARTA station kiosk. Load $20 minimum covers a full week. Tap to enter, tap to exit. Works on trains and all buses.
Use your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet to breeze through the faregates with a simple tap and go. Click the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to set up your digital wallet in the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app.
Other ways to get around
The Atlanta BeltLine
22 miles of trails connecting 45 neighborhoods, the most scenic way to move through Atlanta between matches. Walk, bike, or scooter past murals, breweries, parks, and some of the best restaurants in the city. Completely free to access.
Eastside Trail
Most popular
Runs from Inman Park through Old Fourth Ward to Piedmont Park. The most built-out stretch, with restaurants, bars, and murals every hundred yards. Direct access to Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market.
Westside Trail
Near the stadium
Connects English Avenue and Vine City close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the natural post-match route into West Midtown. Quieter than Eastside, well-maintained, with easy MARTA access nearby.
Electric Scooters
Two operators run citywide. No reservations, no docking stations. Download the app, scan, and go. Perfect for short hops between MARTA stops, the BeltLine, and Midtown.
Lime
E-scooters and e-bikes across Midtown, Downtown, and the BeltLine corridor. Unlock with the Lime app. No membership needed.
Bird
E-scooters and e-bikes throughout the city. The Bird Three is their flagship, stable, fast, and reliable for stadium-area rides.
⚠ Park at designated zones only. Improperly parked scooters get flagged and fined. Both apps show legal parking spots.
Rent a Bike
Musette ATL
The best way to explore Atlanta between matches. Musette delivers directly to your hotel or Airbnb within 4 miles of the city core. Every rental includes a MIPS helmet, high-security lock, self-guided maps, and a bag of snacks for the road. Bikes from quality brands. No dock, no app, no scrambling.
MARTA Bus Network
60+ routes covering Atlanta, DeKalb, Fulton, and Clayton counties. The same Breeze Card you use on the train works here. The NextGen Bus Network launched April 2026 with faster, more frequent service across the city. Widest reach of any option on this list.
Key routes near the stadium
Hours & how to pay
Apps
