Key points:
- The World Cup trophy is currently on display at the Home Depot Backyard in Atlanta through May 16.
- Local nonprofit Fields of Dreams Academy received a grant from FIFA.
- Showcase Atlanta will host “A Celebration of Soccer & Sound,” a free watch party and festival at Piedmont Park on July 19.
The FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta are less than a month away. As anticipation builds, FIFA awarded a local nonprofit a grant, Showcase Atlanta announced a Piedmont Park watch fest, and the World Cup trophy made a stop in Atlanta.
Catch up on the latest Atlanta World Cup news below.
World Cup trophy stops in Atlanta
Before this year’s physical World Cup is gifted to the global tournament’s winning team, the coveted trophy is making a journey around the world. Over a period of 150 days, the trophy will visit 75 major cities globally. The Cup is currently making its circuit through the U.S. and just stopped in Atlanta. This will be the trophy’s only stop in Georgia prior to the matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in June and July.
Georgia governor Brian Kemp, along with Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens and former Spanish player Carles Puyol, unveiled the trophy during a ceremony at Coca-Cola’s headquarters on May 14. Coca-Cola has been an official FIFA World Cup sponsor since 1978. The Atlanta-based soft drink company is also a founding partner of the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center in Fayetteville.
Atlantans can see the World Cup trophy for themselves at Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s Home Depot Backyard on May 15 and 16. Fans will be able to view the iconic trophy up close and participate in interactive entertainment and photo opportunities.
Advance tickets for the event are sold out. A limited number of on-site registration tickets will be available each day on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ball crew academy training
FIFA and Powerade hosted a group of young athletes for an elite training experience ahead of serving as the World Cup’s official ball crew. More than 150 athletes from all 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities received training at the Arthur M. Blank Training Facility in Fayetteville on May 12.
Field of Dreams Academy receives FIFA grant
Local nonprofit Field of Dreams Academy, which empowers youth through academic and athletic enrichment programs, received a grant from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund initiative. FIFA awarded grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to 27 community-based organizations across 10 counties.
The Global Citizen Education Fund is currently accepting applications for its next round of giving. The fund has raised $30 million so far and aims to mobilize $100 million by the end of the 2026 World Cup.
Related stories:
• In May, metro Atlanta becomes the new home of U.S Soccer
• All FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage
A World Cup finale by Showcase Atlanta
Showcase Atlanta announced it will host a free watch party and festival on July 19 in honor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The event takes place at Piedmont Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Produced by ONE Musicfest, “A Celebration of Soccer & Sound,” will feature live performances, DJs, interactive fan experiences, a Kids Zone, a local marketplace, and food vendors.
“Atlanta has known how to turn a sporting moment into a cultural one since 1996,” Lamar Stewart, Interim Executive Director of Showcase Atlanta, said in a press release. “On July 19, we’re inviting every single Atlantan to close [the World Cup] out together in Piedmont Park. That’s the whole point of Showcase Atlanta. The world’s biggest moments should happen with this city, not to it.”
A Cup without ICE
Some soccer fans are apprehensive about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) presence in American host cities during the World Cup. Earlier this month, the “No ICE in the Cup” campaign launched in an effort to reduce ICE involvement in World Cup host cities across the United States. The campaign, along with film director, activist, and artist Paola Mendoza, launched an open art commission inviting artists to submit pieces inspired by the mission statement.
