As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gears up in Atlanta, law enforcement from around the state will be on hand to help the Atlanta Police Department ensure people's safety.

Why it matters: On top of managing hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the tournament, Atlanta police will have to maintain the same level of service the agency provides to the city's 245 neighborhoods.

The latest: Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said all 1,800 sworn officers will be working alongside 500 civilian members of the department.

• The agency has also deputized 170 additional officers from cities and counties across the state.
• They've been trained on city ordinances and will be dispatched to serve the Downtown area, Schierbaum said.

Zoom in: On game days, the city's Joint Operations Center will be upgraded from a Level 2 to a Level 1 — meaning all relevant agencies will be at the center monitoring what's happening on the ground.

• Officers from as far as Nashville will be joining APD, as will mounted patrol units from Savannah and the Cobb County Police Department.
• "It is going to be everyone on deck, meaning if you have no interest in soccer but you still call 911, you're going to get the response that you need," Schierbaum said. "That's what our half-million residents of the city expect."

Between the lines: Hundreds of thousands of people coming to Atlanta means a very active nightlife, so the city has introduced an ambassadors program.

• The program will start with 12 members who will fan out across Downtown, South Downtown and the Edgewood corridor between Boulevard and near Krog Street to assist patrons and report any concerns.

The fine print: Atlanta Department of Transportation Commissioner Solomon Caviness said crews are putting the final touches on sidewalk improvements and re-striping work.

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With the FIFA World Cup coming into town and other events on the books, there is no shortage of things to do this weekend.

Here's a quick rundown:

⚽ Decatur WatchFest '26 kicks off today at 3pm with a free screening of the first World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa on the Square. (Thurs.)

• Hip-hop artist Big Boi of Outkast will perform at a sold-out concert at 7:30pm.

🎉 Atlanta's FIFA Fan Festival opening celebration takes place at Centennial Olympic Park. (Thurs.)

🪉 Hip-hop artist Rick Ross will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut album Port of Miami with an orchestra performance at the Fox Theater. (Fri.)

🏳️‍🌈 June is Pride Month and the city of Smyrna is hosting its 6th annual festival at Market Village. (Sat.)

• The Visibility Club's Gwinnett Pride 2026 celebration takes place at Thrasher Park. (Sat.)

🚪 Tiny Doors ATL will unveil the first of four new Tiny Doors of Downtown at noon Saturday at Founders Green, the new green space in South Downtown.

• Attendees can scan a QR code to embark on a scavenger hunt to find the other doors.

🛴 Atlanta Streets Alive sets up along a new route for FIFA World Cup-related events: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from the Beltline Westside Trail to Northside Drive. (Sun.)

Tell a friend

Let's say you've got a rooting interest in the World Cup but tune into soccer only every four years.

• Here's a refresher on the rules of the game and what you need to know about this year's World Cup, which starts today in Mexico City and then heads to the U.S. and Canada.

The group stage

There are 12 groups of four teams, decided by the World Cup draw in December. Each team plays the other three teams in their group.

• A win gets you 3 points, a tie 1 point and a loss no points.
• The top two teams from each group advance to the first single-elimination knockout round. Additionally, the top eight teams from among the third-place teams in each group advance.

The knockout rounds

This year's expanded format means there will be a round of 32 for the first time. The winners of those games will advance to the round of 16. That round is followed by the quarterfinals, the semifinals and then the final.

• The losers of the semifinal round play each other in the third-place game.

The length of games

Each half is 45 minutes, but the referee stops time for injuries, substitutions and video reviews, so typically stoppage time is added to the end of each half.

Go deeper

Artist Nick "Turbo" Benson has unveiled his latest mural, "ATL Nighthawks at the Diner," on the side of Waffle House at 135 Andrew Young International Boulevard in Downtown.

Why it matters: Benson's work is a modern revamp of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" that was painted in 1942.

• Instead of Hopper's original portrayal of loneliness, "Benson turns the image on its head and instead focuses on joy and community," according to the Atlanta Street Art Map's Instagram post.

Pro tip: If you look closely, you can see the artist's portrayal of Outkast's Big Boi and André 3000 sitting at a booth.

🌡️ Georgia and Fulton County officials are urging people to take precautions against extreme heat during the World Cup games. (WABE)

❤️ CNN journalists, executives and other employees gathered Wednesday to honor late founder Ted Turner's legacy. (CNN)

⚖️ Two Georgia congressmen have filed impeachment resolutions against a federal judge who was disciplined for alleged misconduct, including having sex with a police officer in her chambers, the Associated Press reported.

🚧 DOT crews have started prepping for the I-75 at Bethlehem Road Interchange project, which is getting underway later this year in Henry County. (WSB)