FIFA World Cup 2026: Atlanta Stadium guide
Article excerpt
Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, from group play through the quarterfinals. The guide covers practical logistics: parking options and pricing, concession details, transit access, and seating information for fans planning to attend. With matches scheduled across multiple dates, the stadium expects significant crowds as one of twelve U.S. venues hosting the tournament. The piece walks readers through what to expect on matchday, from arrival to food and beverage options.
Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans will descend into Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The city and its world-renowned stadium will host eight matches, including a semifinal in July. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be called Atlanta Stadium during the tournament.
Here’s your guide to the schedule, parking, concessions and more at Atlanta Stadium.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
ATLANTA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
Group stage:
June 15: Group H, Spain v. Cabo Verde, 12 p.m. kickoff
June 18: Group A, South Africa v. Czechia, 12 p.m. kickoff
June 21: Group H, Spain v. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m. kickoff
June 24: Group C, Morocco v. Haiti, 6 p.m. kickoff
June 27: Group K, Uzbekistan v. DR Congo, 7:30 p.m. kickoff
Round of 32: Teams TBD, July 1, 12 p.m. kickoff
Round of 16: Teams TBD, July 7, 12 p.m. kickoff
Semifinal: Teams TBD, July 15, 3 p.m. kickoff
GETTING TO ATLANTA STADIUM
PARKING
All parking passes must be pre-purchased and only people with match tickets can buy them, according to FIFA. You can find what parking is available near Atlanta Stadium here. The parking lots will open four hours before kickoff.
RIDESHARE
Atlanta Stadium will have rideshare areas on Broad Street between Trinity Avenue and Mitchell Street. There will also be accessible pickup and drop-off areas at GWCC Bus Lane C (Entrances B & C) and the Transportation Terminal (Entrance E)
MARTA
MARTA will keep its $2.50 fares for one-way trips. There are two MARTA stations next to the stadium: SEC District (formerly known as CNN Center/GWCC station) and Vine City. Fans can also walk from Peachtree Center or Five Points stations.
ATLANTA STADIUM GATES
The stadium gates will open three hours before kickoff. FIFA encourages fans to give themselves enough time to get through security and in case any ticket issues come up at the gate.
Here are the Atlanta Stadium entrances that fans can use.
Entrance A: Postell Street, closest to the Vine City Station
Entrance B: Northside Drive
Entrance C: Magnolia Street
Entrance D: Just off Andrew Young International Boulevard and Magnolia Street
Entrance E: Andrew Young International Boulevard
Entrance F: Centennial Olympic Park Drive (Not accessible)
Entrance G: On the other side of the Silver Deck and entrance F (Not accessible)
WILL THE ROOF BE OPEN?
To help protect the new natural grass surface, the Atlanta Stadium’s iconic roof will stay closed throughout the tournament.
The grass is a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Atlanta Stadium Field Director Stuart Wilson says any exposure to humidity can be harmful for the grass.
“If we open the roof, it will put a lot of pressure on the playing surface for disease. So yeah, so we’re just keeping away from that,” Wilson told Channel 2 in May.
CHEAP CONCESSION PRICES
Fan-friendly prices have been a trademark since the stadium opened. And those won’t go away for the World Cup matches.
Owner Arthur M. Blank told Channel 2’s Alison Mastrangelo that he wants soccer fans to enjoy Atlanta’s Southern hospitality.
“Fans give us their energy, their time, their passion, their resources, their families, whatever it may be, and we need to honor that in the truest sense of the word, whatever we can,” Blank said.
The stadium will keep concession prices affordable for everyone.
“We can’t always control what happens on the field, what happens on the pitch, but we can control the fan experience,” Blank said.
Atlanta Stadium is cashless.
WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T BRING IN
There will be a clear bag policy for all FIFA matches during the World Cup. The bags can’t be larger than 12x6x12 inches. Nonclear small clutches or wallets are allowed as long as they are the size of your hand. All bags will be inspected.
Fans are able to bring in small flags, banners and posted but they can’t be bigger than 78 inches by 60 inches and must be fire-resistant. Any banners larger than that must be approved in advance.
Any signs or paraphernalia that’s political, offensive or discriminatory are banned. The same goes for any commercial or promotional items.
FIFA will allow fans to bring in one plastic, sealed and disposable water bottle into any match. It can’t be more than 20 ounces. Fans will not be allowed to bring in a hard water bottle.
You can find a full list of what is and what is not allowed here.
WHERE TO FIND WORLD CUP MERCHANDISE
Stadium Fan Experience area, inside gate 1
Section 101
Section C108
Section 113
Section 118
Section 121
Section 125
Section 204
Section 221
Section 226
Section 234
Section 301
Section 323
Section 333.