With less than two months until the FIFA World Cup arrives (June 15), civic and business leaders, and Atlanta residents gathered April 15 at the Downtown ATL Inc. Town Hall meeting at the Rialto Center for the Arts to outline how Downtown Atlanta is preparing for what officials say will be the largest global sporting event ever hosted by the city.
The meeting, hosted by Downtown Atlanta Inc., brought together public safety officials, political analysts and economic development leaders to share updates on key initiatives shaping downtown ahead of the 2026 tournament.
“This Town Hall is an opportunity to… align around the exciting work ahead, especially as we prepare to welcome the world,” said A.J. Robinson, president of Downtown Atlanta Inc.
Officials emphasized the unprecedented scale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will include 48 teams, 104 matches and an estimated 6.5 million attendees across host countries. Atlanta will host multiple matches between June and July 15, including knockout rounds and a semifinal match in July.
“This is the largest World Cup in the history of World Cups,” said Major Brian Schiffbauer of the Atlanta Police Department’s Special Events Division. “There’s going to be… a lot of people.”
Planning for the World Cup has been underway for nearly two years, with public safety and logistics at the forefront. Schiffbauer said the city will deploy an average of about 450 additional police officers per day in the downtown and Buckhead areas during match days and FanFest operations. Those officers will be supplemented by law enforcement from other jurisdictions to ensure routine emergency response across the city is not disrupted.
“We want everyone to be safe… residents and businesses in Atlanta,” he said.
FanFest events, which will take place at Centennial Olympic Park, are expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors daily beginning June 11, ahead of the first match. While there are currently no permanent street closures planned, officials said rolling closures are likely as crowds spill into surrounding streets.
“When the crowds start flowing into the streets… you’ll start seeing streets… shut down,” Major Schiffbauer said, noting areas such as Marietta Street and Baker Street as likely pressure points.
Transportation remains one of the biggest challenges. Despite efforts to manage traffic and encourage transit use, officials warned residents to prepare for congestion.
“I don’t care what kind of traffic plan we put into place … traffic is going to be gridlock,” Major Schiffbauer said.
The event will also bring heightened international attention and security considerations. Visiting teams will begin arriving in Atlanta two days before their matches, with hotels across the city designated for teams, media and FIFA officials. Centennial Olympic Park’s capacity will be reduced due to event infrastructure, pushing additional activity into surrounding areas.
Beyond logistics, the town hall highlighted the economic opportunities tied to the World Cup, particularly in the retail sector. Through a partnership with Invest Atlanta and Showcase Atlanta, $250,000 in grants have been awarded to 10 small businesses to launch temporary retail pop-ups across downtown neighborhoods, including Castleberry Hill, South Downtown and Auburn Avenue.
“These retailers will be popping up… from sweets and juices to Atlanta souvenirs,” said Jennifer Ball, chief operating officer of Downtown Atlanta Inc. “We’re really excited about leveraging these two months … into longer-term success.”
Organizers expect at least 70 to 80 pop-up vending opportunities throughout the tournament, alongside broader efforts to prepare small businesses.
Lamar Stewart, executive director of Showcase Atlanta, said the initiative is focused on ensuring local businesses and residents benefit from the global spotlight.
“We want to ensure that… residents, businesses and neighborhoods… benefit from this increase of global visibility,” Stewart said.
That includes workforce development programs, digital marketing grants and training workshops designed to help businesses scale operations and compete during the influx of visitors.
“There’s going to be so much competition… you’re going to have to stand out,” Stewart said.
Officials also pointed to broader preparations across downtown, including public art installations, infrastructure improvements and expanded cleaning and outreach efforts aimed at presenting a welcoming environment for visitors.
The timing of the World Cup may also overlap with political activity in Georgia. Greg Bluestein, chief political reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said a potential special legislative session could take place in late June, coinciding with early matches.
“There’s a likelihood… [it] could happen in the latter weeks of June,” Bluestein said.
Still, leaders stressed that the World Cup represents a rare opportunity to showcase Atlanta on a global stage, drawing comparisons to the 1996 Olympics and its long-term impact on the city.
Residents were encouraged to engage with the event rather than avoid it.
“Don’t leave… be a tourist while you’re here,” Stewart said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime… event.”
Organizers say success will depend not only on planning and infrastructure, but on how the city welcomes millions of visitors in the coming weeks.
“This is going to be an event like you have never seen before,” Schiffbauer said. “You have to plan… you have to prepare.”
