It’s wild to think the World Cup rolls into our wonderful city of Atlanta, Georgia this year, but it’s also a stark reminder that there is still a ton of work to accomplish. The Atlanta World Cup Host Committee held its first media availability of 2026 on Friday, marking 150 days until Atlanta’s first FIFA World Cup match. The press conference featured updates from Dan Corso (President of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee and Atlanta Sports Council), Dietmar Exler (Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Stadium), and Adam Fullerton (Vice President of Stadium Operations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium). They dove into a variety of topics with local, national, and international media about what everyone can expect as the World Cup gets closer to our fair city. Y’all be sure to head to Atlanta2026WorldCup.com for a lot more info on the World Cup as it pertains to Atlanta!
FIFA Fan Festival is Free at Centennial Olympic Park
Atlanta’s FIFA Fan Festival will be held at Centennial Olympic Park, the legacy site from the 1996 Olympic Games. Obviously timing is pretty relevant here, as 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Atlanta hosting the Summer Olympics.
The festival will be free and open to the public on all eight Atlanta match days, though VIP hospitality options will be available for those seeking what was referred to as “an elevated experience.” More details on the Fan Fest programming and amenities will be announced this spring, but Corso noted they’ve had strong interest from FIFA commercial partners in the planning process.
For those who may be unaware, the location is incredibly close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, creating what organizers are calling a “compact campus experience.” It’s right next to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and College Football Hall of Fame, along with a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars, and other attractions.
MARTA Upgrades
One of the most common questions we get by folks at Scarves and Spikes as it pertains to the World Cup has to do with MARTA. Obviously, public transit will play a key role in getting fans to and from matches, and MARTA has been working closely with the Host Committee on several improvements.
MARTA is modernizing its fare payment system to include tap-to-pay functionality at fare gates, allowing riders to use a bank card or mobile wallet instead of purchasing a MARTA card. They’re also implementing multilingual messaging and wayfinding signage throughout the system to help international visitors navigate the city.
On match days, the Host Committee will provide 100 volunteers at MARTA stations to assist with customer service. MARTA is also adding additional trains and bus fleets to handle the increased ridership.
The airport station and Five Points in downtown are receiving safety upgrades and beautification work that should be completed this spring. Corso mentioned that the larger Five Points renovation project won’t be finished until 2028, but indicated MARTA will be operationally ready for the World Cup.
Security will also see a visible presence at stations, with MARTA police, safety teams, and regional and statewide agencies all working together to bolster overall security.
Everyone’s other biggest question, the grass!
Adam Fullerton walked through the timeline and the science behind what the Benz will be working on to add the grass pitch to the stadium and how it’ll be different than prior iterations of grass at different events.
The groundwork was actually laid back in 2024, when crews went underground to install a vacuum ventilation system for moisture control, enhanced drainage, and infrastructure for a new irrigation system. Essentially, each installation of grass at the Benz has been a prepped addition for the big one at the World Cup.
Starting January 31st, the stadium will begin removing its turf system. From there, crews will install a root zone and establish a full natural sod field. The playing surface will be a hybrid system consisting of rye and bluegrass with a synthetic component stitched through the backing to provide additional stability. The natural grass grows around those synthetic fibers, so cleats have that natural feel while adding durability needed for such heavy use, which is the same system quite a few stadiums use across the world (and importantly, one that FIFA likes).
FIFA has been deeply involved in the process, assigning Ph.D. level horticulturists to work with each venue across North America. These experts created grow labs that replicate the conditions inside each stadium to determine the optimal grass mixture for that specific environment. The grass itself for the Benz is being grown at a farm in Colorado.
Atlanta United will get the first run at the new surface, playing a handful of matches on it in in the first part of the MLS season. Obviously, that serves as a real-world test for the stadium’s systems before the exclusive World Cup period begins. After the MLS season pauses, the stadium will remove that pitch and install a brand new grass surface exclusively for the World Cup, basically as a refresh of the system that the Five Stripes would have been using to that point.
The Club World Cup this past summer provided valuable lessons, according to Fullerton. He noted that one of the two grass types used was “burning off” at a higher rate than the other by the end of the tournament. That data went back to FIFA and the labs, resulting in adjustments to the grass composition ratio for 2026.
In addition to those main points, the press conference also reiterated that the USMNT will play at least two friendlies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the tournament, which have been announced previously. Belgium arrives on March 28th and Portugal on March 31st, and tickets are already on sale for both matches.
Another common question, especially for a venue as large as the Benz, pertains to the “clean site principle,” which requires covering up all non-FIFA commercial branding. Fullerton confirmed the stadium has over 2,000 cover-ups to complete both inside and outside the venue. The main one will be the Mercedes-Benz emblem built into the roof, and the current plan involves vinyl graphics applied directly to those roof sections.
Finally, one thing that won’t change is the fan-friendly pricing that Mercedes-Benz Stadium has become known for (and that the stadium loves to use to dunk on folks on social media). Fullerton confirmed those prices will remain in effect during World Cup matches.
Anyway, things are progressing well, and we’ll continue to provide updates as they’re announced and as we get closer to the tournament. Let us know what you think below!
Plan Your World Cup 2026 Trip to Atlanta
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i am really intrigued by this iteration of grass that will be used. i am hoping it’s successful enough that they just choose to leave it as the regular pitch. still a believer that it cuts down on injuries as well as just plays better.
not sure how they worked out the concession pricing with fifa, but wow…kudos.