FIFA World Cup is set to be a landmark event for Atlanta, with eight matches set for the city during the summer of 2026. Credit: FIFA

Atlanta has been waiting to welcome the world, but in the years since the city has known it will host eight FIFA World Cup matches, the question has always lingered: Which parts of it? 

Unlike the 1996 Olympics, which brought an influx of all nations across all qualifying sports, the transformative soccer tournament’s impact will be limited to a few countries picked via luck of the draw, with the full complement still yet to be determined by outstanding playoff matches. 

For the five matches in the 48-team tournament’s Group (first) round, Atlanta found out Friday during the draw that it would host countries from groups A, C, H and F, providing a range of possible matchups that featured countries like Brazil, Scotland, South Korea and others. (Hint: None of these ended up with Atlanta matches).

But on Saturday, the specifics became clear. 

One highlight for lovers of quality futbol was the revelation that Atlanta would welcome two matches featuring the top-ranked Spanish national team, which will face off in the first Atlanta-hosted contest on June 15 against Cabo Verde. 

That small nation, comprising 10 islands off the coast of West Africa, is unlikely to bring a huge fan base to the city: The former Portuguese colony has a population of about 600,000 overall, with more Cape Verdeans living in the U.S. than in the islands themselves, said Alcides Vicente, who serves as the country’s honorary consul in Georgia and runs a travel company conducting heritage tours to North and West Africa. 

Still, that hasn’t dampened the excitement for the country’s inclusion, said Mr. Vicente at a Global Atlanta reception featuring African countries with diplomats in Atlanta. (As of Dec. 6, the Cape Verdeans of Atlanta, headed by Mr. Vicente, was already planning a tailgate on Facebook, where he has been fielding ticket inquiries).

“We are super proud to have qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time,” Mr. Vicente, who also runs a travel company, said during a Global Atlanta event last week. “Proving that though small in population, (we are) huge on the global stage of sports. In 2023, we made it to the semifinal of the African Cup but lost to Nigeria with a population of 250 million!”

That Nigeria finds itself sitting out this World Cup could be considered a loss for Atlanta, with its massive Nigerian community and consulate, but the city’s newfound relationship with South Africa, marked by a recent trip to the country by Mayor Andre Dickens, could see another major boost as the country’s national team comes to play here on June 18. 

South Africa will face off against the winner of a European playoff set to be held in March. The possibilities include Denmark, Ireland and Czech Republic, which all have diplomatic representation and significant investment relationships with Georgia, as well as North Macedonia. 

Spain’s second match in the city will be against Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation soon to be linked to Atlanta by a nonstop Delta Air Lines Inc. flight. The fact that the World Cup is sponsored by Saudi oil giant Aramco exemplifies why some economic developers were happy to see Saudi Arabia on Atlanta’s dance card: potential investment opportunities.  

A Morocco–Haiti match will follow on June 24, pitting a North African tourism and industry hub against the Caribbean country that has seen its diaspora population grow in Atlanta in the aftermath of its 2010 earthquake and more recent instability. Haiti has a consulate general in Atlanta serving the estimated 14,500 Haitian-born metro Atlantans, according to census data compiled by the Atlanta Regional Commission. 

The final group match will feature the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan against the winner of an at-large playoff series featuring New Caledonia, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Jamaica.

From the perspective of fan engagement and economic impact, city boosters may find themselves rooting for Jamaica, given that it’s the largest Caribbean community in the metro area, with 41,500 Jamaican-born residents living mostly in DeKalb County. 

For those lamenting the loss of Colombia, Portugal, and other teams dangled in front of the city after the draw, there’s still a remote possibility of welcoming one of them, along with a long shot at France, Senegal, Germany and many others: The Round of 32 will bring a single third-place team from the groups E, H, I, J, or K. Even Argentina (Group J) is a technical possibility, though it’d be astonishing if the defending champs fell to third place in their opening group. 

More promising for the city is the fact that the winner of Group L — a pool featuring England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama, is guaranteed a spot in Atlanta in the Round of 32. 

What lies beyond that round is left to the mystique of the tournament, as the city hosts one Round of 16 match and a semifinal on July 15. 

Atlanta’s Full World Cup Schedule

GROUP STAGES

  • Mon, June 15 at 12pm ET: Spain v. Cabo Verde
  • Thur, June 18 at 12pm ET: Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland v. South Africa
  • Sun, June 21 at 12pm ET: Spain v. Saudi Arabia
  • Wed, June 24 at 6pm ET: Morocco v. Haiti 
  • Sat, June 27 at 7:30pm ET: Uzbekistan v. Democratic Republic of the Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia

ROUND OF 32

  • Wed, July 1 at 12pm ET: Match 80 (1L vs 3E/H/I/J/K)

ROUND OF 16

  • Tues, July 7 at 12pm: Match 95 (W86 v W88)

SEMI FINALS

• • Wed, July 15 at 3pm ET: Match 102, Semi-Finals (W99v W100)

As managing editor of Global Atlanta, Trevor has spent 15+ years reporting on Atlanta’s ties with the world. An avid traveler, he has undertaken trips to 30+ countries to uncover stories on the perils...

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