City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced on Wednesday that the city is one of 16 cities across North America that won a bid to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We have the pleasure of celebrating Atlanta’s selection as a host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, because of our strong, bipartisan public-private partnerships and many who have been working for years to put Georgia on the map since we hosted the 1996 Olympics,” Governor Brian P. Kemp said.
The 2026 edition of the world’s largest sporting event will be the biggest yet, as 48 nation teams will compete for the beautiful game’s most coveted prize.
“This premiere event will have a positive impact on so many hardworking Georgians. Hotels will fill with guests from around the world; restaurants will provide visitors a taste of the South they will not soon forget; attractions across Georgia will welcome those seeking to experience all the Peach State has to offer; and in each interaction, people will see Georgia’s Southern hospitality on full display. The world will be watching as we meet this moment, and we’re proud of all the entities who worked so hard to get us to this point,” Kemp said.
After a year-long bidding process in 2018, the United States, Canada, and Mexico won the right to host the world’s largest athletic tournament.
“Atlanta is a soccer town, and we’re excited to bring the game’s best athletes to the world’s best city,” Dickens said.
The 2026 edition of the World Cup will the first not to feature a single nation host and 32 teams, instead, it will feature three countries and 48 teams.
“Atlanta has already been home to the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and through our strong collaboration with the State and our business community, we will welcome folks from all over the world to fill every seat in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2026,” Dickens said.
Arthur M. Blank, chairman of the Blank Family Businesses and owner of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, said, “This is an incredible opportunity for the city of Atlanta to continue to show the world what we have to offer.”
Each World Cup match that Atlanta hosts are expected to generate some $4.6 million in global media exposure.
“We are thrilled to bring the world’s biggest sporting event to Atlanta,” Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso said.
The rounds of the tournament that Atlanta will host will be announced by FIFA.
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Addison Basurto is a reporter at The Georgia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Addy on Twitter and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Andre Dickens” by the City of Atlanta Government.
