As the world counts down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Atlanta is working tirelessly to not only host the event, but also to tell the city’s story.
At a press conference on June 11, nearly one year before Atlanta’s first match on June 15, 2026, the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee (AWCHC) announced initiatives designed to ensure that the World Cup is deeply connected to the culture and legacy of the city. Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches next year, including a semifinal on July 15.
Various city leaders emphasized the importance of celebrating Atlanta, not just soccer.
“While we are excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity, I have said from the beginning that our Administration is committed to ensuring the FIFA World Cup happens with Atlanta and not to Atlanta,” Mayor Andre Dickens said.
The city announced various programs and initiatives focused on celebrating Atlanta’s youth development, local businesses, public spaces, and culture.
Local artist Jose Hadathy, a Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) graduate who created the World Cup’s official Atlanta Host City poster, said he created the poster to represent Atlanta and its culture.
“I wanted to represent as many parts of the city as possible to show the diversity of the city. Whether you live in the West End or Eastside, you’ll see something familiar,” Hadathy said. “It’s about Atlanta, but also about Georgia and our unique history. The more you look, the more you’ll learn.”
The poster includes iconic Atlanta landmarks like the Georgia State Capitol and Martin Luther King Jr.’s home, as well as HBCUs like Clark Atlanta University and different neighborhoods across the city.
“I am from Ecuador, and I’ve been a soccer fan my whole life, so the World Cup has always been huge for me. Getting to be a part of this moment, even in just this little way, is amazing,” Hadathy said. “I am super excited to get to see people from all over the world seeing my artwork. This is something I never thought would happen.”
The city wants the World Cup to not only highlight Atlanta’s culture, but its small businesses as well. Dickens and the City of Atlanta created a new nonprofit called Showcase Atlanta to help small businesses prepare for and benefit from the massive crowds the event is expected to draw.
Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Lachandra Burks said that the nonprofit will aim to help small business owners think about details that will be important for helping them survive a large-scale event. For example, restaurants will need to think about if they have enough cups to serve the number of people they expect to receive.
“We will take small businesses through training, marketing, and making sure they are prepared for the events,” Burks said. “We will also give some very small business loans to get people ready and be prepared for the crowd that we are expecting in Atlanta.”
The city also plans on hosting festivals and other events throughout the metro area during the tournament to ensure that all residents, even those who don’t have tickets, can participate in the event in some way.
“We know that everyone who comes to Atlanta and everyone who already lives in Atlanta won’t be able to go to the matches,” Burks said. “So we want to make sure people are engaged, that they feel connected to what’s happening. This has to be something they’re part of.”
The AWCHC is also celebrating the city’s culture through a recently debuted sizzle reel with Atlanta native and Grammy-winning rapper Killer Mike. The video highlights Atlanta’s music scene, its landmarks and rich history, and why Atlanta is an ideal city to host World Cup matches.
“Atlanta is a small town masquerading as a big city. When I see Atlanta, I see our beloved community,” Killer Mike said in the video. “And I think that a beloved community is the best place for a world sport to be played…having the globe come here for one of the most popular sports in the world is only appropriate.”
That sense of community will be showcased at Centennial Olympic Park where Atlanta will host the FIFA Fan Festival during the World Cup. This festival is a 20-day celebration of soccer and its culture.
In conjunction with the World Cup, the host committee also announced multiple partnerships to help celebrate and support Atlanta’s youth. A new StationSoccer field will be built at the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA station in partnership with Soccer in the Streets, and a Boys & Girls Club of Georgia partnership will help promote soccer programming throughout the entire state.
City leaders said they are currently preparing Atlanta for the scale of the World Cup in everything from transportation to creating a volunteer headquarters, which will be at the former CNN center. This is one of the largest events Atlanta has hosted since the Olympics.
“We’ve done big events well for decades,” Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, said. “And we know how to make sure that when people come here, they feel the spirit, hospitality, hustle, and global ambition of this city.”