The World Cup 2026 Atlanta experience is one of the biggest in the entire tournament: eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — more knockout football than almost any other host city — including a Semifinal on 15 July 2026. Add a free FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park and the best stadium transit access in the tournament, and Atlanta is arguably the easiest World Cup city to enjoy. Here’s everything you need: the full match schedule, how to get around, where the fan zones are, and what to do with your bags.
World Cup 2026 Atlanta Match Schedule
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — renamed Atlanta Stadium for the tournament — hosts five group-stage matches and three knockout fixtures:
| Date | Match | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 15 June | Spain vs Cabo Verde | Group Stage |
| Thu 18 June | South Africa vs Czechia | Group Stage |
| Sun 21 June | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Group Stage |
| Wed 24 June | Morocco vs Haiti | Group Stage |
| Sat 27 June | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Group Stage |
| Wed 1 July | Round of 32 tie | Knockout |
| Tue 7 July | Round of 16 tie | Knockout |
| Wed 15 July | Semifinal | Knockout |
Always confirm kickoff times on the official FIFA schedule, as knockout matchups are decided as the tournament progresses.
FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park
No ticket? No problem. The official FIFA Fan Festival runs in Centennial Olympic Park, in the heart of downtown, throughout the tournament. Entry is free (online registration required), and the park features a 50-foot screen showing every match, multiple live entertainment stages, fan zones and kids’ areas. It opened on 11 June with the tournament kickoff and sits just a short walk from the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the College Football Hall of Fame — easy to combine into a full downtown day.
One thing to know: like the stadium, the Fan Festival applies bag restrictions, and large bags will slow you down at entry screening. Travel light or store your luggage first.
Getting to Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
By MARTA: the stadium is one of the most transit-friendly World Cup venues. Take the Blue or Green Line to Vine City Station or the Blue/Green/Red/Gold lines to Five Points and walk. A single fare is $2.50 — about $5 round trip — making Atlanta the cheapest stadium journey in the tournament.
From the airport: Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport, connects directly to downtown via MARTA’s Red/Gold lines in around 20 minutes — no rental car needed for a match-day trip.
Bag rules: all World Cup venues enforce FIFA’s clear bag policy (clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, small clutches up to 4.5″ x 6.5″). Full details in our Mercedes-Benz Stadium bag policy guide — and remember, the stadium offers no bag check.
Luggage Storage in Atlanta for the World Cup
Flying in on match day, checking out before an evening kickoff, or heading to the Fan Festival with a suitcase? Radical Storage has verified partners across Atlanta from $4.90 per bag per day, with no size limits and a $3,000 guarantee per item. The most useful ones for World Cup visitors:
- Downtown Atlanta — minutes from Centennial Olympic Park and the Fan Festival, open 10am–9pm.
- Near Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the closest point to the ground, open 9am–6pm (ideal for afternoon kickoffs).
- College Park Subway Station — open 24 hours by the airport MARTA line, perfect for late flights and layover match days.
- North Avenue and Five Points stations — handy drop points along the MARTA lines to the stadium.
Where to Stay and What to See Between Matches
Downtown puts you walking distance from the stadium, Fan Festival and big attractions — but books out fastest around the Semifinal. Midtown offers better restaurant and bar options with a 10-minute MARTA ride to the ground, plus Piedmont Park and the High Museum of Art for off days. With matches spread between 15 June and 15 July, you’ll have plenty of time to explore: the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola sit right by the Fan Festival, the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail is the best way to feel the city, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is a short ride east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium): five group-stage games between 15 and 27 June, a Round of 32 tie on 1 July, a Round of 16 tie on 7 July, and a Semifinal on 15 July 2026.
Yes. The Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park is free to enter with online registration, and shows every match on a 50-foot screen with live entertainment throughout the tournament.
Take MARTA’s Blue or Green Line to Vine City Station, right by the stadium. A single fare is $2.50, and the airport connects directly to downtown via the Red and Gold lines.
FIFA’s clear bag policy applies: clear bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or small clutches up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. There is no bag check at the stadium, so store larger bags off-site.
Radical Storage has partners across Atlanta from $4.90 per bag per day — including downtown near the Fan Festival, close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a 24-hour point on the airport MARTA line — each covered by a $3,000 guarantee.
