As Atlanta prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup exactly 30 years after the city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, there is a lot to know and prepare for! According to the Atlanta FIFA World Cup committee, there are over 300 restaurants within walking distance of Mercedes-Benz stadium alone. Combined with all of those along public transportation, within an easy ride-share distance, and even those that will be hosting viewing parties OTP, that presents quite a lot of opportunity for the Atlanta restaurant community!
The city is billing itself as the “Soccer Capital of the South” and playing up Georgia’s status as the largest state east of the Mississippi and a successful past host to major sporting events.
Here are some helpful links to help you get ready to host the world!
The FIFA World Cup Atlanta Host Committee website offers to visitors and locals alike a wealth of resources for planning during the months leading up to the FIFA World Cup. Links provide resources in everything from information about the venues, schedules for matches, information about the visiting teams and social media guidelines (hashtags to use, official naming conventions, handles to cross-tag).
The FIFA Fan Festival will take place for 20 days in and around Centennial Olympic Park downtown, inviting visitors to enjoy the city even beyond the games, with numerous events still to be announced!
The FIFA World Cup Atlanta Host Committee’s website offers the chance to sign up for an e-mail list to stay involved with all things FIFA as the World Cup approaches.
Even before the World Cup begins, the city will welcome the USMNT to Mercedes-Benz stadium on March 28 for a kick-off match against Belgium. Since all other USMNT group stage matches will be played on the West Coast, this will be a great opportunity to cater to American fans before the tournament. For more details, see the stadium website link.
The Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also offers a comprehensive website of all things World Cup, including a section of links to restaurants around Atlanta, including restaurants with live music, iconic Atlanta restaurants and black-owned businesses to appeal to international visitors. The website offers information about how to become a member to take advantage of what the organization provides, as well as links to contacts within the organization for potential partners.
The Bureau reminded attendees at a November planning meeting that the city will have a lot of international travelers, and they suggested that businesses have translations available for all menus and signage into the five main world languages (English, Spanish, French, Hindi and Mandarin Chinese). As an alternative, they also suggested using a Google Translate widget on your website, so your business is friendly to the majority of international travelers.
Since we know which matches are coming to Atlanta for the group stage, the Bureau recommends think about those cultures, so you may cater hospitality towards them and their serving preferences. For example, there are big differences between how guests expect service in Asia vs. Europe! There are lots of fun websites out there to help Atlantans get accustomed to dining customs from around the world, such as:
- https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/dining-etiquette-around-the-world/
- https://www.latmultilingual.com/blog/eating-around-the-world-with-unique-dining-traditions/
As you prepare, have fun with the idea of welcoming visitors from all over the world! For more about the FIFA World Cup 2026, look for our special World Cup issue of Restaurant Informer coming in April!
