World Cup kickoff
Thursday, June 11 — Happy World Cup Day, everyone! The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts today, with a match between South Africa and Mexico in Mexico City’s storied Estadio Azteca at 3 p.m. (FOX). Keep scrolling for more information about how to celebrate the World Cup in Atlanta, where matches start on Monday.
🌤️ Mostly sunny with a high of 89° today.
💸 An audit completed by the City of Atlanta shows Invest Atlanta has inflated the positive effects of the eight active tax allocation districts.
📈 The Brookhaven City Council held the first of three public hearings on June 9 regarding a millage rate increase, which could raise property taxes by 47%.
⚕️For cancer patients in Atlanta and around the country, a program called Road to Recovery has been, literally, a lifesaver for those who need free rides to chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
🚨 Two men were shot after an argument between two groups of people walking along Edgewood Avenue early Wednesday morning.
🏳️🌈 A hate group carrying a Nazi flag and shouting antisemitic messages interrupted the PrideFest parade in Athens, GA, last weekend.
📺 CNN executives and anchors gathered in Atlanta yesterday to honor founder Ted Turner, who died last month, with Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, and Christiane Amanpour among those pledging to uphold his legacy of independent journalism.
🏃 Beltline Run Club happens every Thursday at 6:15 p.m. Tonight, the run starts at Lewis BBQ on the Northeast Trail. More info here.
ELSEWHERE
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The U.S. launched a second day of strikes against Iran overnight, with Tehran retaliating against American targets across the Middle East and announcing the Strait of Hormuz closed to all marine traffic.
⚖️ Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified before a House panel Wednesday, calling his association with Jeffrey Epstein “a grave error in judgment” that put his philanthropic work at risk.
💸 In May, inflation surged to its highest rate since 2023, surpassing wage growth for the second month in a row.
🏀 The Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 last night, taking a 3-1 series lead.
🥅 Game 5 of the tied NHL Stanley Cup is tonight in Raleigh, NC at 8 p.m. (ABC).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• World Cup party guide
• Art, soccer, and culture
• Real Estate Quiz
• GenAI Healthcare
AND
• Quick Bites
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. World Cup party guide
🌎 The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today, with the first Atlanta match taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 15.
No World Cup tickets? No problem. There are plenty of fan events to attend throughout metro Atlanta this summer. These events highlight what makes Atlanta and soccer so special, welcoming people to join in on all the World Cup excitement.
➡ Check out Rough Draft’s World Cup party guide here.
Get the season’s best fruits, flowers, and vegetables delivered!
SPONSORED BY FRESH HARVEST
We’re Atlanta’s better grocery delivery service, bringing you the freshest local produce, organic groceries, and yes, Georgia-grown Pearson Peaches, straight to your door each week.
With Fresh Harvest, enjoy >>
🚛 Weekly Doorstep Delivery
🛒 Easy Online Ordering
🌎 Sustainable & Compostable Packaging
🧑🌾 Local Organic Produce & Groceries
🍑 Georgia Peaches All Summer Long
Join today to get the farmer’s market experience at home.
2. Five Atlanta art shows explore the intersection of soccer and culture
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY VISUAL ARTS NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE
🎨 This FIFA World Cup summer, five Atlanta art exhibitions make the case that the beautiful game has always been as much about culture as it is about competition.
The proof is on the walls, from Edgewood Avenue to Emory’s campus. Galleries like One Contemporary, Gallery Chimera, and ABV are showcasing the connections between the world’s favorite sport, culture, and art.
3. What’s it Worth?
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
🏡 More private resort than residence, this 11,000-plus-square-foot custom estate by renowned architect Linda MacArthur features disappearing walls of glass, a heated saltwater pool, sprawling covered terraces for entertaining, and the privacy of bordering protected parkland.
❓ Guess the price below!
4. How Atlanta’s GenAI Healthcare built a smarter health ring
🩺 GenAI Healthcare recently rolled out its NexCura platform for wellness insights. Now, the team is getting ready to be in the market with a wearable health device that translates real-time biometrics and biomarkers.
Its new product, NxRing, is currently available for pre-orders. In a recent Hypepotamus article, CEO Ramesh Sundararajan talked about the process of rolling out a physical product as an AI company and what’s next for the growing Atlanta startup.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
🖼️ Ahlers & Ogletree presents a 600-lot Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Auction featuring Picasso, Dalí, Chagall, and more. Explore fine art, furniture, and sculpture. Preview June 15–16; reception June 16. Register and start bidding today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER| SUBSCRIBE HERE
😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, we’ve rounded up some new restaurant openings, including several near Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta and another wine bar headed to East Atlanta Village. Get details on Aria’s new executive chef, who takes over for Joseph Harrison in the kitchen of the award-winning restaurant in Buckhead. Plus, we have an update on an Atlanta restaurateur’s battle with cancer.
🍽️ Read the latest Atlanta dining news here.
🐶 Your dog deserves a World Cup party. The Swiss Consulate and Fetch Park Buckhead are making it happen June 13 at 2 p.m. Watch Switzerland vs. Qatar live, plus dog activities, free pizza, pet photos, and Swiss giveaways. SPONSOR MESSAGE
🍽️ Unplug and connect with five like-minded readers by attending Rough Draft’s Dinner Club on Tues., June 16. Book your seat today.
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
