What Atlanta and Cobb County Can Do to Become the Best World Cup Hosts

By John A. Tures, Professor of Political Science at LaGrange College

On Thursday, I got a glimpse of what the 2026 World Cup will look like, when the United States, Canada and Mexico host the event, as Atlanta hosted a Copa America match between the United States and Panama. Although the United States lost a hard-fought contest, the event could be considered an overall positive for one very big reason.

That’s because Atlanta will host the second-most games in this World Cup and will be in the spotlight. But will “The Big A” be ready for it? And can Cobb County help? Here are the pros and cons of the Copa America, as well as the opportunities for Atlanta’s neighbor.

Good points

1) Mercedes-Benz Stadium

For those who have never been, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is an incredible venue for an event, whether it be American football or that other sport we call soccer. There is no bad seat for the event, a clear upgrade from the Georgia Dome, although it was not a bad place to watch a game. Nearly 60,000 people were in attendance for the Copa America competition. You can expect even larger numbers on the world stage, which will bring in a lot of tourism dollars.

2) MARTA bounces back

I’ve written complaints about MARTA for not increasing transportation for major events, from the SEC Football Championship to the Atlanta Falcons to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl to the Peachtree Road Race. But MARTA stepped up to the plate this time, bringing in extra trains. They’re also scheduled to do so on July 4th for America’s Greatest 10K, to show they’re ready for the World Cup.

3) The spirit of the American fans was strong

The American fans were very enthusiastic, for the first goal (recalled), the second and the angst caused by Tim Weah’s red card. And when the Panamanians celebrated their goals and the game, I saw the American fans take charge. The American fans will need this good host mentality to make 2026 a success and to bring more events to the Peach State.

Negatives

1) No instant replay at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The fans who attended the game were not able to see the replays of the disallowed goal and the red card. According to my son, who knows more about football, both whistles were justified. It seems that the stadium did this to protect the referees, but people were already blaming the officials. Show what we can see. Maybe the referees are right, you know. But not showing the replays just made the fans angry.

2) Congested roads

With the Copa America, the presidential debate on CNN, and regular rush hour traffic, it was hard to get around town. With the 2026 World Cup, it will be even worse. They need more MARTA buses and park-and-ride events. This is where Cobb County malls can make Atlanta games more convenient and maybe make money from parking spaces that aren’t occupied. That’s what the San Antonio Spurs did when I attended their games.

3) North Georgia needs more places to interact with fans

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup will be sky-high. And the average Atlanta or Cobb County resident won’t be able to see any or all of the games. It’s time to seriously consider alternative venues for game viewing parties. Atlanta United pulled off a masterstroke during the 2022 World Cup by hosting a viewing party for the Argentina-France game at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Cobb County. Cobb County should plan a number of these, indoors and outdoors, at local stadiums. Consider how Truist Park in Cobb County showed away games during the Atlanta Braves’ 2020 playoff run, when the games were in Texas.

The World Cup is one of the biggest sports celebrations of all time. Atlanta hosts many games but can’t do it alone. It’s time for Cobb County to do its part and reap the benefits of bringing international fans to Georgia.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. His opinions are his own. You can contact him at [email protected]His “X” account is JohnTures2.