As Spain celebrates its 2026 FIFA World Cup title, the country’s relationship with Atlanta continues to build momentum.
2026 FIFA World Cup Champion Spain played two of its eight matches in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As a host city, the World Cup presented an opportunity for Atlanta to welcome the world, including thousands from Spain, and to showcase Southern hospitality.
“One lesson I’ve learned over the years in economic development is that opportunity rarely begins with a transaction. It begins with a relationship. It grows through trust, shared experiences, and the confidence that comes from feeling welcomed and valued,” said Pat Wilson, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). “The strongest partnerships are built over time, and often the first step is simply making someone feel at home.”
Atlanta made visitors from Spain feel at home, with multiple murals by Andalusian street artists, the temporary Casa España cultural exhibit in South Downtown and art exhibitions highlighting Spain’s critical role in the American Revolution.
The World Cup also provided a timely platform for business and relationship building. The Ambassador of Spain to the United States Ángeles Moreno Bau and Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Mónica Vázquez both traveled to Atlanta not only to cheer on Spain’s national team La Roja, but to speak at the Global Business & Sports Summit hosted by Metro Atlanta Chamber in partnership with the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Spain’s economic relationship with Atlanta kicked off long before the first coin toss in the 2026 World Cup. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), more than $1.75 billion in goods flowed between Spain and Georgia in 2025, up 2.71% from the previous year. Spanish companies have invested more than $30.6 million in the state over the past four years and created 270 new jobs.
“We at the Metro Atlanta Chamber hope to continue attracting investment and jobs by leveraging the World Cup as a launching point for sustained commercial engagement,” said Stefan Harrigan, Senior Manager, Global Business Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber. “As the fourth-largest economy in the European Union, Spain is a market of significant interest, and there is already a substantial foundation on which to build future investment.”
One of the world’s leading technology providers for the travel and tourism industry, Amadeus has called Atlanta home for more than a decade. Amadeus also offers travel intelligence and market data, stresses that hosting major global events, such as the FIFA World Cup, not only increases demand, but reshapes where demand flows, when it spikes, and who captures the value.
Spanish companies are currently shaping Atlanta’s roadways. As part of the Georgia State Route 400 (SR 400) Express Lanes infrastructure project, Indra is deploying its most innovative intelligent mobility management technology to support dynamically priced toll lanes. Indra’s advanced cloud-based solution will make traffic predictions, enhance vehicle classification, improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs across more than 16 miles of the highway. Atlanta serves as a primary U.S. hub for Indra Group USA.
Two other Spanish companies are part of the SR 400 consortium, ACS Group, leading the endeavor, and Acciona. A subsidiary of Madrid-based ACS Group, FlatironDragados relocated its U.S. and Canada headquarters to Atlanta in August 2025.
“Atlanta has all the elements to invest, to grow a business, to start a new one,” said Ángel Cabrera, Georgia Tech President. “Spain and the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia already have strong business connections. But I believe we’ve only begun to scratch the surface.”
Announced this month, Madrid company Acciona expanded its regional footprint by acquiring metro Atlanta-based infrastructure contractor Vertical Earth. Prior to the acquisition, Acciona had already seen tenfold growth in its U.S. awarded contract volume in the last two years.
IDOM, an employee-owned international engineering, architecture and consulting firm founded in Bilbao, Spain, operates a regional office in Atlanta. When IDOM opened its Atlanta office in 2018, the company saw the city as not only an innovation hub for its North American projects, but also a place to connect with prospective clients around the world.
Growing trade, expanding foreign direct investment and regular exchanges between business, government and civic leaders continue to strengthen ties between Atlanta and Spain on and off the field.
Spain and Atlanta will come together over a major sporting event again this fall, when the Atlanta Falcons play the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on Nov. 8, 2026. Business delegations are expected to travel to cheer on the teams. Part of the NFL International Games, 2026 NFL Madrid will be held at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
