James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 43
ith International
Federation of Association Football
(FIFA) World Cup
matches coming to
Mercedes-Benz Stadium this summer, Atlanta is gearing
up for a moment that goes beyond
the game of soccer. This event will
spotlight our capital city’s vibrancy,
hospitality and world-class infrastructure, and it will serve as another opportunity to elevate Atlanta on
a global stage.
Atlanta will host eight World
Cup matches including a semifinal—
more than all but one U.S. city. These
games will bring hundreds of thousands of international and domestic
visitors to Atlanta, from soccer fans
and media to global business leaders. And with Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport—
the world’s busiest and most
efficient— as our gateway
to the world, Atlanta is uniquely
equipped to welcome this influx
with seamless connectivity. Eighty
percent of the U.S. population is
within a two-hour flight of Atlanta,
and Hartsfield-Jackson offers nonstop flights from more than 80 international destinations and 150 U.S.
cities. In fact, Delta Air Lines and its
global partners offer direct service
from Atlanta to every World Cup
host city— making Atlanta the ideal
home base for international fans as
they follow their team throughout
the tournament.
By plane or by ground, it is tough
to beat Atlanta’s accessibility. With
three major interstates running
through the city, we are a great
drive market. And once fans
arrive, MARTA makes
it easy to navigate
between the city’s
neighborhoods.
The impact of being a host city
will be felt far beyond Atlanta and
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Metro Atlanta Chamber estimates more than
$500 million in economic activity
for Georgia, just from out-of-state
match-goers. In Atlanta, sporting
events account for hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Under the
leadership of Atlanta Sports Council,
our city attracts athletic events to Atlanta year-round. Atlanta Convention
& Visitors Bureau partners on these
events to bring new guests to our
city, giving us an opportunity to introduce them to everything Atlanta
has to offer. When it comes to FIFA
World Cup 2026, we know fans will
arrive in advance to experience
all the festivities in and around
Atlanta, which means additional
business for our hotels, restaurants and attractions.
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