"It's officially here, y'all": Atlanta says it's ready for World Cup
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens greets visitors at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center who were on hand for a pep rally ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios
Four years ago this month, Atlanta was named one of 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the U.S. that would host 2026 FIFA World Cup games.
Why it matters: After years of meetings, readiness exercises, drills, planning and training, all eyes will soon be on Atlanta when it hosts the first of eight matches that will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- "This is a big moment for our city to be right here on the precipice of the FIFA World Cup 2026," said Mayor Andre Dickens. "It's officially here, y'all."
Driving the news: The city held a pep rally Tuesday to kick off the games, which are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people to Atlanta through mid-July.
- The first match in Atlanta will be at noon Monday, June 15, between Spain and Cabo Verde.
By the numbers: Dickens said Atlanta has trained more than 400 city employees to help welcome visitors from around the world.
- By next week, Atlanta Department of Transportation crews will have paved more than two dozen miles of roads, re-striped 200 intersections, installed 150 new streetlights and repaired 14 miles of sidewalks, the mayor said.
- Dickens said the Department of Watershed Management has evaluated hundreds of miles of its lines to "ensure reliable service throughout the tournament and beyond for our residents and visitors."
- In the case of a large-scale emergency, Dickens said the city has plans to have water tanker vehicles on hand.
Zoom in: While the city and other stakeholders are encouraging people to use MARTA, passenger safety has been called into question after 66-year-old Margaret Swan was stabbed to death on May 30 at the Oakland City station and a 17-year-old boy was shot Friday at the Midtown station.
- The suspects in both incidents were arrested and face state and federal charges, and the Trump administration is investigating the agency.
- Dickens said Atlanta is communicating with MARTA, and encourages it to allow officers to work overtime, deputize other law enforcement agencies so they can potentially work extra jobs at a station and coordinate with APD.
- "This is go time, so MARTA is going to step up big, I think, to make sure that they meet the moment," Dickens said. "I am, you know, optimistic about what has occurred over the last couple of weeks has really lit a fire [under] MARTA that they'll be able to meet this moment."
State of play: MARTA said Tuesday through a spokesperson that its officers are working 10- and 12-hour shifts six days a week, and are patrolling stations, buses, bus transfer hubs, parking lots and trains.
- Officers from Denver's transit agency will also be in town to help MARTA police, and sworn MARTA officers who usually work behind a desk have been reassigned to patrol duties.
- MARTA also said it will have officers housed in mobile command units that will be at "key locations" around Atlanta.
- Its Emergency Operations Center will be activated starting Thursday and will run on game days and when the city's Fan Festival is active.
What's next: Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum will hold a press conference at 1pm Wednesday to discuss public safety preparations for the World Cup.