During FIFA World Cup's Opening Week MAC Welcomed Delegations from Spain, Cabo Verde, and South Africa
ATLANTA— As FIFA World Cup 2026 opened in Atlanta on June 15, the impact extended well beyond the pitch. While the city hosted its first two of eight matches, the Metro Atlanta Chamber convened a series of diplomatic and business engagements with delegations from Spain, South Africa and Cabo Verde. The gatherings reflect a strategic effort to use the tournament’s global spotlight to build durable, long-term investment relationships.
Cabo Verde: Presidential Visit
On June 14, the day before the small West African island nation of Cabo Verde made its historic World Cup debut against Spain, President José Maria Pereira Neves traveled to metro Atlanta for a business investment forum and community reception at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. The event brought together Atlanta leaders and members of the Cape Verdean diaspora to strengthen ties with Cabo Verde.
The visit marked a meaningful moment in the two regions’ shared history. Cabo Verde’s Olympic debut was at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, and their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup was in 2026.
The beloved Blue Sharks shocked soccer fans the following day in Mercedes-Benz Stadium (renamed Atlanta Stadium for the FIFA World Cup matches), holding #2-ranked Spain to a tie. Cabo Verdeans across metro Atlanta and the world celebrated the 0-0 final score as a win.
Spain: Business Summit at the Metro Atlanta Chamber
Hours before the June 15 kickoff, the Chamber hosted a summit at its Downtown Atlanta office with more than 200 business leaders, along with partners from the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The gathering welcomed Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. Ángeles Moreno Bau and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and built on years of intentional relationship building between metro Atlanta and Spain. Earlier this year, Chamber President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick traveled to Madrid to meet with executives from Spanish companies already invested in Georgia and others considering future investment.
Katie Kirkpatrick, Ambassador Moreno Bau and Mayor Dickens were joined by Lizann Grupalo, deputy commissioner of trade at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), and Mónica Vázquez, president of the U.S.-Spain Chamber of Commerce, for a morning panel discussion.
Later panels featured prominent speakers from FIFA, the NFL, the MLS and others, including Rich McKay, CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment and the 2026 Metro Atlanta Chamber Board Chair. More detail on the program and speakers can be found here.
The economic ties between Spain and Georgia are already significant. According to GDEcD, $1.7 billion in goods flowed between Spain and Georgia in 2024, and Spanish companies have invested more than $20 million in the state over the past five years. Spanish companies such as Flatiron Dragados, Indra, and IDOM already have a presence in metro Atlanta, but the Chamber hopes to attract investment and jobs by leveraging the World Cup as an entry point to sustained commercial engagement.
South Africa: Commerce and Cultural Connections
At the second match hosted in Atlanta on June 18, South Africa faced off against Czechia – another tied score, and another opportunity for business connections. The Chamber once more hosted a pre-match gathering of city and regional leaders with South African business and diplomatic representatives.
Gayton McKensie, Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture for South Africa and Neil Diamond, President of the South Africa – U.S. Chamber of Commerce, were guests of honor, participating in a breakfast panel discussion that included Katie Kirkpatrick, as well as Rob Lebel of Delta Air Lines and Emy Casaletti-Bwalya, Member of the Board of Brand South Africa. The discussion, moderated by South African media presenter and producer Stacey Holland, focused on opportunities for deeper collaboration between metro Atlanta and South Africa.
The connections between metro Atlanta and South Africa run deep, supported by a strong diaspora community across Georgia and growing business, cultural and civic ties between the two markets.
The Larger Strategy
“The matches are extraordinary, but we are working on a real legacy with the conversations happening before and after the final whistle,” said Kirkpatrick. “We are strengthening the business relationships this summer that will matter to this region for decades.”
Kristi Brigman, the Chamber’s chief economic development officer, said major sporting events create access few other moments can match.
“When a head of state comes to your city, or when executives fly in for a match and stay for a meeting, it creates a rare opportunity,” Brigman said. “Our job is to make sure metro Atlanta is prepared to turn that opportunity into lasting relationships, investment and jobs.”
Six matches remain in Atlanta’s World Cup schedule, including a semifinal on July 15.
