World Cup 2026 Tickets Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The FIFA ticket lottery has closed, and if you’re reading this in mid-January 2026, you’re either waiting for the February allocation results or already planning secondary market strategies. Either way, Atlanta’s eight World Cup matches, which include the July 15 semi-final, are now five months out, and it’s time to figure out the actual logistics.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts Spain twice, Morocco, and the knockout rounds, all building toward one of two matches that decide who reaches the final. The venue opened in 2017, already hosted a Super Bowl, and became Atlanta United FC’s home, where 40,000+ crowds proved American cities can sustain genuine football culture when the product delivers.

If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta, this guide brings everything you need to know:

• Which matches are worth the money
• What Atlanta’s MARTA system actually covers
• Where to stay without spending New York prices
• Whether Southern hospitality lives up to the marketing or just means slower service.

For further reading on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we suggest checking out our other guides:

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Mercedes-Benz Stadium: The Venue

Capacity: 75,000 (World Cup configuration)
Location: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Opened: 2017
Cost: £1.18 billion ($1.5 billion)
Distance from Airport: 10 miles (Hartsfield-Jackson ATL)

The stadium sits downtown and is connected to MARTA’s Blue/Green lines via a short walk from Five Points or Dome/GWCC stations. This info matters because Atlanta is one of maybe three American World Cup host cities where public transit actually works without requiring PhD-level planning.

The Stadium’s retractable roof is, interestingly, shaped like a camera aperture. It is genuinely impressive when it opens. The retracting option will come in handy for handling the July heat. Once closed, with air conditioning running, football suddenly happens in climate-controlled comfort rather than Georgia summer humidity that makes Miami feel temperate.

Arthur Blank (Home Depot founder, Falcons/Atlanta United owner) built this Stadium as his legacy project. The result is impressive. Mercedes-Benz Stadium brings great sightlines, wide concourses, and legitimately affordable concession pricing that breaks every American sports venue norm. Don’t trust us? Just imagine paying £1.58 ($2) for hot dogs and soft drinks. Not a typo.

Recent History: Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted Super Bowl LIII (2019) and College Football Playoff Championship (2018, 2021). Atlanta United draws 45,000+ people regularly. To provide a better context of the Stadium capacity, we’ll bring you back to the 2018 MLS Cup Final when a match between Atlanta United and Portland Timbers attracted a crowd of 73,019. The 2-0 win from the home team brought more than a joyous occasion but also proved the venue sustains football enthusiasm beyond novelty.

Official Resources:

Complete Match Schedule

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*Playoff winners determined March 2026
Source: FIFA Official Schedule

What Actually Matters

Spain Twice: The European behemoths are playing two group stage games five months from now. Spain brings technical football and trademark flair, traveling support, and the comfort of knowing you’re watching a team that won’t embarrass themselves. Both fixtures (June 15 and 21) feature noon kickoffs, which is excellent for avoiding July evening heat, but potentially bad news for any Saturday night plans likely to get derailed by afternoon football.

Morocco vs Haiti (June 24): Atlanta’s substantial West African diaspora plus Montreal’s Haitian community is sure to create genuine away support for both sides. This isn’t neutral ground, it’s two fan bases who will travel butting heads in what promises to be a heated affair – off the pitch at least.

The Semi-Final (July 15): One of two matches worldwide that decides who plays in the final. The allocation happens in a few weeks. If you got tickets, you’re set. If you didn’t, secondary markets will be…educational.

Ticket Reality Check (January 2026)

The lottery closed January 13. Results come in February. If you’re in, congratulations. If you’re out, here’s what comes next.

Official FIFA Pricing (What You Applied For)

Secondary Market Reality (What You’ll Actually Pay)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup secondary ticket market is pretty diverse. When it comes to Atlanta, there is no doubt that Spain is the main focus for any supporters planning a trip to the USA. Spanish fixtures already trade at £315-473 ($400-$600) for Category 2 seats on the likes of TicketCenter.com, a site specialized in providing safe and secure tickets for various events worldwide.The prices currently stand at 30% above face value. Morocco runs £237-315 ($300-$400) but these offer a guaranteed opportunity to grab an early entry.

The semi-final tickets?

Current ask stands at £1,972-2,761 ($2,500-$3,500) for Category 1. That’s if you buy now, five months out, before anyone knows which teams are playing. If Spain reaches the semi-final, feel free to add 50%. If England somehow gets there, double it.

Strategy: If the lottery failed and budget constraints, make sure to target Spain’s group matches or Morocco. You get World Cup atmosphere at £315-473 ($400-$600) rather than semi-final prices that require selling organs.

Getting to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

This is the part where Atlanta actually functions like a real city with public transit.

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) runs directly to the stadium. No shuttles, no complexity—just trains that work.

MARTA website: itsmarta.com

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By MARTA (Recommended)

From Airport:

• Red/Gold Line from Airport Station to Five Points
• Transfer to the Blue/Green Line to the Dome/GWCC or Georgia State stations
• 5-minute walk to the stadium
• Journey time: 25-30 minutes
• Cost: £1.98 ($2.50) each way

From Downtown Hotels:

• Blue/Green Line to Dome/GWCC Station
• Journey time: 5-10 minutes
• Walk through the CNN Center, and emerge at the stadium

From Midtown/Buckhead:

• Red/Gold Line to Five Points
• Transfer to the Blue/Green Line to the Dome/GWCC
• Journey time: 15-20 minutes from Midtown, 25-30 from Buckhead

Post-Match: MARTA runs until 1:00 AM weekdays, 2:00 AM weekends. Evening matches (6:00-7:30 PM kickoffs) mean 8:30-10:00 PM returns which are well within service hours. Buy round-trip Breeze cards at station kiosks to avoid post-match queues.

By Rideshare

Costs:

• From Airport: £15.80-23.70 ($20-$30) normal pricing
• From Midtown: £11.85-19.75 ($15-$25)
• From Buckhead: £15.80-27.65 ($20-$35)
• Post-match surge: 2-3x multipliers common

Drop-Off: Northwest side of stadium near Gate 1
Pick-Up: Designated rideshare lot requires a 10-minute walk post-match

By Car (Not Recommended)

Stadium parking is limited to 7,000 spaces. It usually fills hours before kickoff, so driving to any World Cup match in Atlanta is not something we’d recommend. Street parking downtown requires navigating one-way streets and meter enforcement. If driving proves necessary, however, make sure to arrive 3+ hours early, park in CNN Center or Philips Arena garages (£15.80-27.65 / $20-$35). From there, it’s a 10-minute walk to the Stadium.

Where to Stay

Atlanta accommodations divide between downtown convenience, Midtown character, and Buckhead luxury. Fortunately, they all connect to MARTA, which works well for World Cup purposes.

Downtown

Cost: £118-237 ($150-$300) per night
MARTA: Blue/Green/Red/Gold lines, 5-15 minute stadium access
Advantages: Walking distance to stadium, central location, business hotels with availability
Best For: Straightforward match-day logistics, business travelers

Hotels: Omni Hotel at CNN Center (literally connects to stadium via walkway), Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis

Midtown

Cost: £158-315 ($200-$400) per night
MARTA: Red/Gold Line to Five Points transfer, 15-20 minutes total
Advantages: Piedmont Park, arts district, restaurant density, Ponce City Market
Best For: Younger supporters, those wanting neighborhood character over convention hotels

Area: 10th Street corridor, Peachtree Street concentration, walkable to High Museum and Fox Theatre

Buckhead

Cost: £197-394 ($250-$500) per night
MARTA: Red/Gold Line to Five Points transfer, 25-30 minutes total
Advantages: Upscale shopping, fine dining, luxury hotels
Best For: Higher budgets, those prioritizing hotel quality over proximity

Hotels: St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental, Waldorf Astoria

Decatur (East Side Alternative)

Cost: £94.99-158 ($120-$200) per night
MARTA: Blue Line direct to Five Points transfer, 30-35 minutes total
Advantages: Lower costs, college town character, local dining scene
Best For: Budget-conscious supporters, those comfortable with longer commutes

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Atlanta’s Soccer Culture

Atlanta United FC joined the MLS in 2017 and immediately broke attendance records. Crowds of over 45K people per match in a league where 20,000 no doubt counts as huge success. As mentioned above, the 2018 MLS Cup attracted 73,019. This isn’t performative enthusiasm. No, Atlanta supports football when the product delivers, and the football market can rarely offer a product more anticipated than a World Cup.

The Atlanta supporter groups (Terminus Legion, Resurgence, Footie Mob) create an atmosphere matching European standards. Drums, smoke, organized chants, they have it. Such an atmosphere is not manufactured in American sports entertainment. The city’s international population (significant Latin American, African, and European communities) understands football culture beyond casual American sports fandom.

What This Means for World Cup: You’re not educating American sports fans about football. You’re entering a market that already gets it. Spain’s matches will feel like Spanish support is at home. Morocco brings the West African diaspora who live here. The semi-final puts 75,000 people who understand the stakes into a venue built for atmosphere.

Things to Do (Match-Day Compatible)

Downtown

• Georgia Aquarium: World’s largest (when it opened), whale sharks, 2-hour visit
• World of Coca-Cola: Taste 100+ international Coke products, surprisingly engaging for 90 minutes
• CNN Studio Tour: Media operations behind the scenes, booking required
• Centennial Olympic Park: 21 acres, fountains, free
• Timing: Morning activities (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) work before noon kickoffs. Afternoon fixtures (6:00-7:30 PM) allow full-day tourism.

Midtown

• Piedmont Park: 200+ acres, walkable from Midtown hotels
• High Museum of Art: Southeast’s premier art museum, 2-3 hours
• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Adjacent to Piedmont Park, seasonal displays
• Ponce City Market: Converted Sears building, rooftop with city views, food hall

Beyond Match Days

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park: Birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, free admission
• Stone Mountain: 16 miles east, cable car to summit, Confederate memorial (controversial)
• BeltLine: 22-mile trail loop, portions open for walking/biking
• Fox Theatre: 1920s movie palace, guided tours available

Where to Eat

Southern Staples (Required)

• Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Downtown): Atlanta institution since 1945, fried chicken, mac and cheese, sweet tea that tastes like diabetes
• The Varsity (Midtown): Drive-in since 1928, chili dogs, onion rings, “What’ll ya have?” tradition
• Busy Bee Cafe (West End): Soul food, collard greens, cornbread

BBQ

• Fox Bros Bar-B-Q (Candler Park): Texas-style, brisket focus
• DAS BBQ (Multiple locations): Local chain, decent quality, convenient
• Fat Matt’s Rib Shack (Midtown): Blues music nightly, casual atmosphere

Upscale

• Bacchanalia (Westside): Fine dining, prix fixe menus, reservations essential
• Staplehouse (Old Fourth Ward): James Beard semifinalist, creative American
• Gunshow (Glenwood Park): Dim sum-style service, chef-driven

International

• Buford Highway Corridor: 10 miles northeast, authentic Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican, Latin American—no tourism polish, just immigrant communities cooking real food
• Specific Recs: Hae Woon Dae (Korean), Quoc Huong (Vietnamese), Havana Restaurant (Cuban)

The Bottom Line

You applied for tickets, and February will tell you if you got them. If yes, Atlanta provides legitimate public transit, affordable concessions, and a genuine football culture that didn’t require the World Cup to develop. If no, secondary markets run £315-473 ($400-$600) for Spain group matches and £1,972-2,761 ($2,500-$3,500) for the semi-final.

The logistics work here. MARTA trains reach the stadium, which is beyond convenient. Hotels exist at multiple price points. The city understands football beyond American sports novelty. And Mercedes-Benz Stadium functions exactly as designed: retractable roof handles weather, sightlines work from all sections, and that £1.58 hot dog proves Arthur Blank’s “fan-first” approach isn’t just marketing.

Five months out, the brackets remain unknown. Spain could win Group H or finish second. The semi-final could feature expected powers or tournament surprises. But the stadium will be ready, the city will function, and 75,000 supporters will fill a venue that proves American cities can sustain an authentic football atmosphere when genuine investment meets actual fan culture.

Ticket Strategy from January 2026 Perspective:

• Got lottery tickets? Set. Book refundable hotels now.
• Didn’t get tickets? Monitor secondary markets, target Spain group matches for value.
• Chasing semi-final on the secondary market? Budget £1,972-2,761 ($2,500-$3,500) minimum and accept that advancing teams will shift prices substantially.

Atlanta works. MARTA functions. The food costs £1.58. See you there.

FAQs

Did I get tickets?
You’ll know in February when FIFA sends allocation emails. Accepted applicants get charged automatically. If partially successful, you got some matches, but not all. If you got nothing, secondary markets open.

Does MARTA really work?
Yes. It’s not Tokyo or London, but it functions. Trains run on time, stations are clean enough, and you’ll reach the stadium without drama. Buy Breeze cards at the airport or any station.

What’s July weather like?
Hot and humid: 85-90°F (29-32°C) with 70% humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms happen, but usually pass quickly. Stadium roof closes for matches—climate-controlled interior regardless of exterior conditions.

How early should I arrive?
Group stage: 90 minutes is adequate. Semi-final: 2.5 hours minimum for security, atmosphere, and navigating 75,000 people. Gates open 3-4 hours before kickoff.

Stadium bag policy?
Clear bags (12″ x 6″ x 12″) or small clutches (4.5″ x 6.5″) only. Prohibited: backpacks, large purses, outside food (except sealed bottles), and umbrellas.

Can I walk from most hotels?
Downtown hotels: yes (10-20 minutes). Midtown/Buckhead: take MARTA. The walk from Midtown exceeds 3 miles—doable but uncomfortable in July heat.

What about that cheap stadium food?
Real. £1.58 ($2) hot dogs, soft drinks, popcorn. Arthur Blank implemented “fan-first pricing” when the stadium opened, keeping it through all events. It’s legitimately unusual for American sports venues.

Is Atlanta safe?
Downtown and Midtown around the stadium: yes, especially during events. MARTA stations: fine during daytime and evening hours. Avoid wandering in unfamiliar residential areas after dark. Standard urban awareness applies.