City, state, and regional partners align to bring global tournament to life in Atlanta
Nearly 30 years after the 1996 Summer Olympics transformed Centennial Olympic Park into a global gathering place, the FIFA Fan Festival kickoff marked a new chapter in the same space. Brought to life through coordination across public and private partners, the event reflects the collaboration Governor Brian Kemp and Mayor Andre Dickens have said is essential to an undertaking of this scale.
Across the region, coordination between city and state agencies, business leaders, community organizations, and regional partners has become increasingly visible. From public safety operations and transportation planning to fan experiences and downtown activations, the preparation reflects months of work behind the scenes across multiple sectors. Those efforts are setting the stage for welcoming the world.
That collaborative approach has long defined Atlanta’s strategy for attracting and hosting major events. It has helped establish the region as a national leader in both sports and business, with Atlanta’s ranking as the No. 1 city for sports business complemented by Georgia’s long-standing position as the No. 1 state for business for more than a decade.
Leaders have consistently framed FIFA World Cup 2026™ as an event that happens with Atlanta, not in Atlanta—creating opportunities for residents, businesses, and communities to participate in and benefit from the tournament’s global spotlight. Across the city, that idea plays out in real time, as fans move between activations, public spaces, and downtown gathering points shaped by the tournament.
