Atlanta's official 2026 World Cup poster unveiled
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The FIFA 2026 World Cup poster for Atlanta. Credit: Jose Hadethy
Lifelong soccer fan Jose Hadathy was ecstatic to learn that Atlanta will be hosting eight 2026 World Cup matches.
Why it matters: Hadathy was granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create Atlanta's official poster for the upcoming tournament.
- He grew up in Ecuador and can remember how excited people were when the country qualified for its first-ever World Cup.
- "It's hard to describe how much this tournament means to people around the world," he said. "And for me, having lived there and now being here in Atlanta, knowing that it's going to be on our doorstep, is so incredibly meaningful."
Driving the news: Atlanta's poster was unveiled Saturday. Posters for Philadelphia and Los Angeles have already been released, and remaining host cities will roll out their designs over the next month.
What they're saying: Hadathy, the creative design manager for Atlanta United, told Axios the team was approached by the World Cup Host Committee to "show our city through our own lens."
- The committee presented a palette of colors that were exclusive to the city, and Hadathy met with Atlanta United senior creative director Larry Luk to brainstorm themes and elements to include in the poster.
- "This is such an incredible honor for me to be able to merge both of my passions and to represent the city that I love so much in such a historic way," Hadathy said.
Zoom in: The focal point of the poster features a group of people celebrating. They are surrounded by a tree canopy that's shaped like the retractable roof for Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- A MARTA train rides along elevated tracks, with a soccer field, Krog Street tunnel and a street featuring rainbow crosswalks situated below.
- You can also see well-known Atlanta buildings and landmarks, including the State Capitol, SkyView ferris wheel, Wren's Nest, childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr,. and a house from the West End decked out with solar panels.
- The poster is bordered with peaches and their blossoms, with a larger peach cut open to show a gold globe with patterns of a soccer ball (look closer and you can also see a plane and a falcon in the sky).
- The street and tree canopy are designed to connect like a soccer ball, Hadathy told Axios.
The big picture: Hadathy said he feels like the poster features elements that emphasize the city's inclusivity and progressiveness.
- "I think for those that don't know the city, or maybe are going to come to the city for the World Cup, I think it gives a nice glimpse into what they can expect," he said. "And hopefully the excitement that the fans in the poster show will get them excited to experience the city."
What's next: Posters representing all host cities will go on sale April 19.