From June to July 2026, hundreds of thousands of tourists will travel to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup. Atlanta will host eight matches, including a semifinal, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As part of the effort to revitalize and develop Downtown ahead of the event, Showcase Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress will host a webinar for small business owners and Downtown property owners.
The webinar will take place on Thursday, May 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. and will include information on the resources Showcase Atlanta and CAP have available to build out the vacant storefronts in Downtown through façade improvements, tenant uplift, and public art.
“The vision is to bring us together so that we can ensure that residents are participating, not just spectating, and that small businesses are part of delivering these World cup hosting experiences,” Norelie Garcia, the Executive Director of Showcase Atlanta, said at a Downtown Town Hall on April 30. “The matches are 90 minutes and some overtime, that’s it. So, the rest of the time, [visitors] need to eat, they need to play, they need to experience Atlanta. We want to equip small businesses with enough awareness and then tools along the way.”
The World Cup is estimated to make an economic impact of $1 billion on Atlanta. The city will host the second highest number of matches in the country behind Dallas, Texas.
“The 2026 World Cup matches will not just be a boom for Atlanta, this is going to be a win for our entire region,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said at a 2026 FIFA World Cup meeting with Fulton County officials on April 23.
Showcase Atlanta is a regional leadership initiative working to maximize the economic benefit and long-term legacy of large-scale events like the World Cup. Central Atlanta Progress is a non-profit providing leadership, programs, and services to preserve and strengthen Downtown Atlanta. Resources the organizations provide include a directory providing business owners with information about contract opportunities around the World Cup and a membership offering exposure and assistance to Downtown businesses.
Small business owners interested in pursuing a storefront in Downtown and Downtown property owners can register for the “Countdown to the Cup: Downtown Property Owner Webinar” here.