Soccer fever officially took over Atlanta this weekend as fans from across the Southeast gathered at The Home Depot Backyard for the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.
As I attended Saturday’s event, the excitement from fans was impossible to ignore. Families, longtime soccer supporters and young fans proudly wearing jerseys from countries around the world lined up for the rare opportunity to see the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy up close ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to the region next summer.
The atmosphere felt like a mini World Cup celebration right in the heart of Atlanta. Music filled the venue while fans participated in interactive games, took photos and celebrated the global game together. Even with advance tickets officially sold out, supporters continued arriving early hoping to secure one of the limited first-come, first-served entries available onsite.
For many attendees, seeing the trophy in person was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Fans smiled, recorded videos and snapped countless photos as they moved through the exhibit area. Conversations throughout the day centered around Atlanta’s role in hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how special it will be for the city.
Watching the excitement throughout the event reminded me of the energy surrounding Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics. That same feeling of pride, unity and anticipation could be felt again as fans gathered from all backgrounds to celebrate one of the world’s biggest sporting events finally making its way to Atlanta.
The FIFA World Cup comes to Atlanta from June 15 to July 15, 2026. All eight matches will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will include five group stage games, a Round of 32 game, a Round of 16 game, and a highly anticipated Semi-final match.
The event also showcased just how much soccer culture has continued to grow throughout the city and across the Southeast. With Atlanta already established as one of the country’s premier soccer markets, this weekend’s turnout proved the city is more than ready for the world stage.
As the countdown to 2026 continues, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour gave Atlanta fans an early glimpse of what is still to come — and judging by the atmosphere this weekend, the city is fully ready to embrace every moment of it.
