The global impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games cannot be understated. With an expected viewership of 200 million people worldwide, FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the scale of attention and participation for the international games will be the equivalent of 104 Super Bowls. And Atlanta will be home to some of the action with eight scheduled matches between June 15 and July 15.
The influx of visitors and soccer celebrants is expected to go beyond Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Atlanta city limits into the metro area, which raises questions about preparedness, safety, public health, transit, the impact on small businesses and designated places to view and revel in the games.
Some audience members had their doubts about whether Atlanta and the metro area will be ready for the games. Others raised concerns about the current political climate towards people who are foreign-born and how federal immigration agents might interact with them.
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