A stadium surrounded by massive development

Situated close to Centennial Olympic Park, which commemorates Atlanta’s role as host of the 1996 Olympic Games, the stadium is also at the center of a major urban redevelopment project.

The area surrounding the venue is undergoing a transformation through the multi-billion-dollar Centennial Yards initiative. The project will introduce new hotels, entertainment spaces, restaurants, retail outlets and immersive attractions, creating a vibrant district around the World Cup venue.

Why it’s known as Atlanta Stadium during the World Cup?

Outside FIFA competitions, the venue is widely known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium and is commonly referred to by locals as “The Benz.”

However, FIFA regulations prohibit the use of commercial stadium names during its tournaments, meaning the venue will officially operate as Atlanta Stadium throughout the World Cup.

Interestingly, the giant Mercedes-Benz logo on the roof will remain visible. Stadium officials determined that covering the branding could damage parts of the retractable roof structure, resulting in a rare exception to FIFA’s standard sponsorship rules.

Home of Atlanta’s biggest sports teams

Opened in 2018 at a reported construction cost of approximately $1.6 billion, the stadium replaced the former Georgia Dome.

Today, it serves as the home venue for:

• 
  NFL franchise Atlanta Falcons
• 
  Major League Soccer side Atlanta United

The venue has quickly become one of the most recognizable sports stadiums in North America.

Capacity and World Cup Crowds

Atlanta Stadium can accommodate nearly 80,000 spectators for major events.

Local organizers expect every World Cup fixture at the venue to attract near-capacity crowds, continuing a tradition of large attendances that the stadium has regularly witnessed since opening.

Atlanta United has repeatedly drawn some of the largest crowds in MLS history, while college football games have also packed the venue.

Natural Grass replaces artificial turf

The stadium normally uses a state-of-the-art synthetic playing surface.

For the World Cup, however, FIFA regulations require natural grass. Stadium operators have spent the last two years testing and refining systems designed to grow and maintain high-quality grass inside the enclosed venue.

Previous temporary grass installations received criticism during earlier international tournaments, but extensive testing ahead of the World Cup aims to ensure improved playing conditions.

A climate-controlled World Cup experience

Atlanta summers can be extremely hot, with temperatures regularly climbing above 30°C.

Fortunately for supporters, the stadium’s roof will remain closed throughout the tournament. Combined with full air-conditioning, fans can expect a far more comfortable matchday experience compared to several outdoor venues across North America. 

Fans without stadium tickets can still soak up the World Cup atmosphere at several viewing locations across the city. The official FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park will feature giant screens showing live matches throughout the tournament. While registration is free, guaranteed entry may require a paid pass depending on demand.

Other popular viewing spots include Decatur Square, which will host outdoor watch parties, and District Atlanta near Atlanta Stadium, where matches will be screened indoors on large LED displays. Additional fan events and screenings are also expected to pop up along the Atlanta BeltLine.

Alternative Spot to Watch the World Cup Final in Atlanta

For fans unable to secure a seat at the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, Atlanta will still offer a lively matchday experience. Popular Italian restaurant Yeppa & Co. is planning a special World Cup Final watch party outside its Buckhead venue, transforming the surrounding street into a football-themed fan zone.

The event is expected to feature giant screens for live coverage of the final, along with music and entertainment, creating a festival-like atmosphere for supporters looking to enjoy the biggest game in football without being inside the stadium.

Atlanta boasts plenty of sports bars preparing for the World Cup. STATS Brewpub remains one of the city’s most well-known sports venues, offering dozens of screens for live coverage.

Other popular options expected to attract football supporters include Fado Irish Pub, Brewhouse Cafe, Der Biergarten, Hudson Grille and SweetWater Brewing. Midtown, in particular, is likely to become a hotspot for fans looking to catch matches in a lively atmosphere.

Best pre-match hangouts

For supporters meeting friends before kickoff, the Atlanta BeltLine and Ponce City Market offer plenty of cafés, breweries and restaurants with rooftop seating and city views.

The stadium is equally impressive when it comes to beverages, with bars and drink stations spread throughout the venue. Numerous screens positioned across the concourses allow supporters to keep up with the action even while grabbing food or refreshments, while seating areas provide convenient spots to relax without missing key moments.

Attractions worth booking early

Visitor numbers are expected to rise significantly during the World Cup, especially on days when no matches are scheduled (July 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17) in Atlanta.

Popular attractions such as the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium are likely to experience heavy demand, making advance bookings highly recommended. Reservations for sought-after restaurants and rooftop venues are also advised during the tournament period.

Getting around Atlanta during the World Cup

One Atlanta-based supporter expressed disappointment over the rising cost of attending matches, arguing that the World Cup has become increasingly inaccessible for ordinary families. The fan compared the upcoming edition with the 1994 tournament, recalling how it inspired him as a teenager and helped grow football’s popularity in the country.

According to the supporter, soaring ticket prices have created a disconnect between the event and local communities, with many fans feeling priced out of experiencing the tournament in person. He also claimed that interest among locals remains muted, with ticket costs becoming one of the dominant talking points surrounding the World Cup.

What the Fan Said

Premium hospitality experiences are driving much of the demand, particularly among high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. Hospitality tickets alone can range from around $2,500 to $10,000, while packages for marquee fixtures such as the final can exceed $60,000. When combined with travel and stay, a six-day World Cup trip for a group-stage match can cost Indian travellers anywhere between ₹7 lakh and ₹9 lakh per person.

The overall cost of attendance is being further impacted by rising airfares and accommodation prices. Flights to North America have already seen significant increases, while hotel rates are expected to surge as the tournament approaches. Despite the high costs, interest remains strong, with many fans willing to follow their teams across multiple cities and even countries during the month-long spectacle.  A challenging task for spectators this year  Unlike the compact setup of Qatar 2022, where fans could travel between the two furthest venues in under 100 kilometres, the 2026 World Cup presents a far greater logistical challenge. With matches spread across three countries, supporters may have to cover distances of up to 4,500 kilometres between host cities. Coupled with visa requirements, ongoing geopolitical tensions in parts of the world, and rising travel and accommodation costs, attending the tournament is expected to be significantly more complex and expensive than previous editions.

The final round of warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup saw Germany outmuscle co-hosts USA in Chicago, while Belgium treated their fans in Brussels to a 5-0 drubbing of Tunisia before heading to America.

While the full Iran squad were issued visas for the United States ahead of the World Cup, the country’s authorities also claimed on Saturday that several members of its delegation saw their applications rejected. The Iranian team has flown out to its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and is set to travel across the border and back for group-stage matches in the US.

World championship leader Kimi Antonelli clinched pole position for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, setting himself up for a potential fifth consecutive victory this season on Sunday. For home favourite Charles Leclerc, it was another qualifying session to forget.

Roberto Duran believes he was coerced by his manager to take an unfavourable fight, shortly after sustaining major injuries from a car accident.

The Hall of Famer is perhaps best known for his encounters with Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, who he fought above his natural weight class of 135lbs.

Against Leonard, he managed to claim the WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory in 1980, before losing their rematch via an eighth-round stoppage later that year.

Duran then faced Hagler and Hearns at middleweight and super-welterweight, respectively, only to suffer back-to-back defeats against his fellow greats in 1983 and 1984.

It was down at lightweight, however, where the Panamanian particularly excelled, claiming his first world title with a controversial 13th-round stoppage of Ken Buchanan in 1972.

Duran then made a pair of WBA title defences before suffering his first defeat against Esteban de Jesus, who dropped and outpointed ‘Hands of Stone’ the same year he won the belt.

While speaking with One On One Boxing, though, Duran explained that his manager, Carlos Eleta, is the one to blame for him losing a unanimous decision.

“That was bad – I’ll tell you why. Carlos Eleta shouldn’t have taken that fight, because I was in a car accident. I broke my [arm] and my mouth was smashed up.

“I believe that Carlos Eleta just wanted money out of Roberto Duran. I still had a swelling and bleeding in my mouth, and my elbow was broken. I still have a hole here [points to right elbow].

“The only good thing Esteban de Jesus did was drop me. When he dropped me, I stood up and won the fight.

“They gave it to him because, back then, and even today in [Madison Square Garden, New York], the Puerto Ricans are in charge.”

While Duran’s idea of a Puerto Rican advantage in New York is perhaps far-fetched, he is nonetheless correct in saying that Esteban was unable to defeat a fully-fit version of himself.

This was proven by an 11th-round stoppage victory in their rematch two years later, and further evidenced by Duran’s 12th-round triumph over Esteban in 1978.

Alexander Zverev is no longer one of the best players never to win a major title. He’s finally a Grand Slam champion.

In his fourth major final, Zverev beat Flavio Coboll 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 for the French Open title on Sunday.

It was a unique opportunity for Zverev without Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz across the net and the third-ranked German took full advantage on the red clay of Roland Garros.

When Cobolli missed an overhead on the second championship point after more than four hours of the five-set encounter, Zverev dropped on his back to the clay and covered his face with his hands as he began sobbing.

When he got up, with his shirt and arms covered in clay, Zverev put his hands back on his face before he lifted both arms in celebration.

Zverev has now joined an elite group of players that captured their first major in their fourth final: Eight-time major champion Andre  Agassi, 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic and 2020 U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem. 

No Sinner or Alcaraz  Zverev had been an overwhelming favorite for the title ever since the top-ranked Sinner struggled in the first week’s heat wave and wasted a two set and 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round.

A day later, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was also eliminated.

Alcaraz, the two-time reigning champion, withdrew before the tournament with an injured right wrist.

It was Zverev’s second French Open final, having wasted a lead of two sets to one against Alcaraz in the 2024 championship match.

Zverev had an even bigger advantage – two sets to none – in the 2020 U.S. Open final and lost that one, too, to Thiem. He was also beaten in straight sets by Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.

It was the 25th title of Zverev’s career. 

Cobolli’s 1st Slam final  The 14th-ranked Cobolli had never been past a Grand Slam quarterfinal until this week. He was attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the singles trophy at Roland Garros since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Cobolli comes from the same tennis club in Rome as Panatta did and Panatta was asked by tournament organizers to present the Coupe des Mousquetaires to the champion to celebrate the anniversary of his 1976 triumph.

The honors, however, were going to Zverev.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva won the women’s singles trophy on Saturday.

Zverev took control early on  The match was played in perfect conditions and Zverev’s game was almost flawless at the start.

Zverev broke Cobolli’s serve in a long opening game when Cobolli shanked a forehand into the first row of the stands.

The break came after Zverev had a bit of luck when a backhand return hit the net but dribbled over on game point for Cobolli.

A group of women in the stands held up letters to form Zverev’s nickname: “Sascha.”  Cobolli likes to stand way over near the corner of the court and hit big kick serves out wide into the ad court.

Zverev knew what was coming and returned one such kick serve early in the first set with a backhand that he wrapped around the outside of the net post.

Cobolli ended up winning the point, but it was a message from Zverev that he knew how to handle his opponent’s tactics.

The next time Zverev hit a wrap-around-the-net-post return, Cobolli couldn’t handle it and Zverev won the point.

Cobolli’s supporters in his box were all dressed in blue, the color of Italy’s national teams, and as Cobolli worked his way back into the match, there were chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Flavio, Flavio.”  After Zverev held for a 6-5 lead in the fourth, he had his upper right leg treated by a trainer.

Then Zverev wasted a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker, which Cobolli concluded with a forehand winner up the line that produced a roar from the crowd.

But Cobolli appeared to run out of energy in the fifth, running down a drop shot only for Zverev to then pass him up the line for a 3-0 lead and a double break.

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, but the move could now be delayed after he got called up to Brazil’s World Cup squad

Brazil have called up Atalanta midfielder Ederson – which could now delay his move to Manchester United after they reached an agreement to sign him.

Ederson will head to the World Cup to play for the South Americans, who were dealt an injury blow. Roma full-back Wesley will miss the tournament in North America, leaving Brazil needing cover.

A statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Sunday read: A statement read: “The Brazilian Football Confederation reports that the athlete Wesley was re-evaluated this Sunday by the Brazilian National Team’s medical commission and underwent an imaging exam.

“The MRI scan revealed a muscle injury in the adductor muscle of the left thigh. The CBF regrets the injury. Wesley is a beloved player within the group and will always be considered part of this team that is seeking its sixth world championship.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE.

You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“In light of the diagnosis, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) announces the call-up of player Ederson, who will join the delegation this Monday in the United States.”

The 26-year-old is due to move to Old Trafford for an initial £35million, but will now aid the efforts of Carlo Ancelotti and his team. Brazil are seeking their sixth World Cup success and their first since 2002.

Brazil’s initial squad only included five midfielders, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro among them. They have been drawn into Group C and will begin their tournament against Morocco on June 13. They will then take on Haiti on June 20 and Scotland four days later.

Ederson is set to sign a four-year deal at Old Trafford with an option to extend his stay for an additional 12 months. The move had been expected to go through before July, subject to Ederson completing a medical, but that could now be pushed back due to his World Cup involvement.

United want to bring in a number of midfielders during the summer window. They have just seen Casemiro, who will link up with Ederson at the World Cup, leave following the expiry of his contract. Manuel Ugarte is also likely to depart.

Josh Hart is not the biggest name in the New York Knicks’ lineup. However, he fully understands his role and has been arguably the team’s most impactful player through two games in the NBA Finals.

The 6-foot-5 swingman has made a name for himself as one of the best rebounding players at his position. He has only scored three points combined in Games 1 and 2. However, has more than made up for it with contributions across the board. Hart’s hustle also does not show on stat sheets, which has given New York extra possessions.

Advertisement

MORE: San Antonio Spurs troll New York Knicks before NBA Finals Game 1

The 31-year-old recorded a game-high 15 rebounds in Game 1. He followed it up with six more two days later for a total of 21. Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand, corralled 12 in the series opener and nine in Game 2, also for 21 in the first two matchups.

Hart’s achievement stands out as he is 11 inches shorter than the San Antonio Spurs superstar center. He has also played 33 minutes than Wembanyama. The Villanova product’s impressive performances came after he admitted having self-doubt early in the season.

A look at Josh Hart’s postseason stats

Hart has appeared in all of the Knicks’ 16 postseason games this year. He is averaging 10.2 points, 8.9 rebounds 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals. His veteran smarts and tenacity has been one of the biggest reasons in his team’s 13-game winning streak. Hart has also played a key role in guiding New York to within two wins from winning the title.

Advertisement

The Knicks will rely heavily on Hart to continue doing what he does best in Games 3 and 4. The franchise has a chance to sweep San Antonio and win its first championship in 53 years in front of its home fans.

When the 2026 WNBA Draft took place in April, most of the spotlight centered on Azzi Fudd not Olivia Miles.

The sharpshooting guard was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings and entered the league carrying enormous expectations.

Meanwhile, Olivia Miles went second overall to the Minnesota Lynx.

She arrived with elite playmaking credentials and a reputation as one of the smartest guards in college basketball, but there were still questions about her scoring consistency and outside shooting.

A few weeks into her rookie season, many of those doubts are disappearing quickly.

Miles has become one of the breakout stars of the 2026 WNBA season, helping lead Minnesota to one of the league’s best records while emerging as the clear frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race.

Not the No. 1 pick — but arguably the biggest early success story

The Wings selected Fudd first overall because of her elite scoring ability and polished perimeter game.

But early returns suggest Minnesota may have landed one of the most impactful players in the draft.

Miles has produced impressive all-around numbers to begin her professional career, averaging around:

• 17 points per game
• 5 rebounds per game
• 6 assists per game

More importantly, she has transformed Minnesota’s offense with her pace, vision and decision-making.

The Lynx entered the season facing uncertainty after roster changes and injury concerns, yet they have surged near the top of the standings with Miles running the show.

Cheryl Reeve is already trusting her instincts

One of the strongest endorsements of Miles’ impact has come from Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve.

Speaking recently about coaching the rookie point guard, Reeve explained that she often allows Miles to trust her instincts rather than overloading her with instructions.

“I don’t coach… a lot of times she’ll say, ‘What do you want me to look for?’ and I say, ‘Whatever your instincts tell you.’”

Reeve added that she tries to stay out of Miles’ way because of how naturally she sees passing angles and reads defenses.

That level of trust is rare for a first-year guard and highlights how quickly Miles has earned respect inside one of the WNBA’s most successful organizations.

The performance that changed the conversation

Miles’ breakout reached another level after her explosive display against the Golden State Valkyries.

The rookie guard erupted for 28 points while knocking down eight three-pointers, setting a new WNBA rookie record for most threes made in a single game.

The previous mark had been shared by several players, including Caitlin Clark.

The performance stunned many observers because outside shooting had been viewed as one of the biggest question marks in Miles’ game during the draft process.

Instead, she answered critics emphatically.

“The most polished player in the class”

Around the basketball world, praise for Miles continues to grow rapidly.

One popular social media assessment described her as:

“The most polished player in the 2026 WNBA draft class.”

Other fans have compared her composure and fundamentals to how Tim Duncan entered the NBA in the late 1990s — calm, efficient and immediately impactful.

Social media has also been flooded with comparisons involving Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and other young stars as fans debate where Miles’ rookie season ranks among recent WNBA arrivals.

Why Olivia Miles is so difficult to defend

Miles is not dominating because of elite athleticism alone.

Her greatest strengths are:

• Basketball IQ
• Tempo control
• Court vision
• Passing creativity
• Decision-making under pressure

Analysts have already drawn stylistic comparisons to legendary WNBA guards such as:

Veterans on the Lynx roster have benefited enormously from her arrival.

Players like:

• Kayla McBride
• Courtney Williams
• Natasha Howard

have all enjoyed cleaner looks and easier offensive opportunities thanks to Miles’ ability to manipulate defenses and control the rhythm of games.

Rookie of the Year race already leaning her way?

It may still be early in the season, but Miles has quickly established herself as the leading Rookie of the Year candidate.

Her combination of:

• Individual production
• Efficiency
• Leadership
• Team success

has separated her from much of the rookie class.

The bigger surprise may be how quickly she already looks comfortable controlling games against seasoned professionals.

At a time when the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth and attention, Olivia Miles suddenly looks like one of the faces of the league’s next generation.

And the most remarkable part?

She wasn’t even the first player selected in the draft.

England’s Charley Hull suffered more major heartbreak as world number one Nelly Korda claimed her first US Women’s Open title.

Hull moved to the top of the leaderboard early in the final round at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, but finished one shot behind Korda on seven under par – her fifth runner-up spot in major championships.

Mexico’s Gaby Lopez finished alongside Hull in second, with South Korea duo In Gee Chun and Sei Young Kim a shot further back.

Hull, who was seven strokes off the pace at halfway, started the day three shots off the lead but got off to a lightning start with an eagle three at the first hole.

She added two more birdies before dropping a shot at the ninth, with back-to-back birdies to start the back nine putting her back in pole position.

Dropped shots on the 12th and 14th derailed her momentum but a birdie at the 17th after getting up and down from a greenside bunker moved her back into a share of the lead.

Unable to hole her chip from behind the 18th green for a closing gain, Hull holed the return putt to set the clubhouse pace and equalled the lowest round of the day with a 67.

Behind her in the closing group, Korda had nine straight pars before she birdied the par-five 17th to edge one stroke ahead.

Korda had a scare as her short par putt to clinch the title rolled around the lip of the hole before dropping to secure her fourth major title with a closing 69.

It followed her success in the Chevron Championship in April, meaning she holds the first two major crowns of the season.

Two Virginia residents are trying to put UFC Freedom 250 in a rear-naked choke before fight night.

A federal lawsuit filed against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior seeks an emergency injunction to stop the UFC event scheduled for the White House South Lawn.

According to the lawsuit, organizers ignored federal permitting rules, skipped environmental reviews and triggered conflict-of-interest concerns.

Because apparently even a UFC octagon on the White House lawn has to clear environmental hurdles.

UFC SAYS IT WON’T PROFIT FROM WHITE HOUSE EVENT THAT COULD COST ‘UPWARDS OF $60M’

President Donald Trump met with UFC fighters Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje and Ciryl Gane in the Oval Office of the White House on May 6, 2026, to discuss the UFC Freedom 250 match scheduled for June 14 outside the White House. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Construction continues on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 2026, ahead of a UFC match hosted by President Donald Trump to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The event is being promoted as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration and, yes, the plan is to stage a UFC card on the White House lawn. According to the lawsuit, the problems start with hosting the fights in front of the executive mansion.

The plaintiffs argue the White House South Lawn and nearby federal property are subject to strict rules that generally prohibit commercial structures and private sporting events without environmental review and congressional approval.

DANA WHITE DISMISSES NOTION WHITE HOUSE UFC EVENT WILL BE ‘TOO POLITICAL’: ‘IT’S A HISTORY-MAKING EVENT’

Organizers have reportedly relied on a special exemption tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The lawsuit argues UFC Freedom 250 is really a private, for-profit sporting event involving the UFC, broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers rather than a legitimate government-run celebration.

The UFC Freedom 250 championship belt is displayed inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2026. (Scott Taetsch/Zuffa LLC)

The complaint alleges the event could financially benefit President Trump and several of his associates, including UFC CEO Dana White and Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison.

DANA WHITE SAYS ‘I DON’T GIVE A S—‘ IF TRUMP FRIENDSHIP COSTS HIM BUSINESS, 250TH EVENT WAS TRUMP’S IDEA

It also points to Trump’s reported purchase of up to $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent company of the UFC.

Court filings argue that the event has less to do with commemorating American independence and more with promoting the UFC brand and celebrating Trump’s 80th birthday.

The White House has already pushed back on the lawsuit, calling it an attempt to derail a properly permitted celebration.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The UFC has not publicly commented.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela