World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to Atlanta Stadium, the $1.6bn ‘spaceship’ FIFA made an exception for (original) (raw)

This article is part of our World Cup Stadium Guides series, in which we look at the 16 venues that will host matches at the 2026 tournament.

Atlanta Stadium is one of the more impressive stadiums at this summer’s World Cup. Within a city landscape in the capital of Georgia that mixes classical and contemporary architecture, the ultra-modern indoor arena stands out like an extraterrestrial mothership.

It’s a massive stadium that’s nestled near Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, which commemorates the southeastern U.S. city’s hosting of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. But the area around the ground is undergoing a major facelift ahead of the World Cup.

A $5billion (£3.7bn) venture known as the Centennial Yards redevelopment project is underway. It will feature an augmented-reality Cosm Atlanta experience, a concert venue, hotels, restaurants and shopping. Atlanta Stadium is a marvel, but the surrounding campus will also be front and center during the city’s eight World Cup matches in June and July.

What’s it known as normally?

It is normally known as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Locals refer to the stadium as simply “the Benz” or by its acronym MBS.

What will it be called for the World Cup?

It’s supposed to be referred to as Atlanta Stadium, but it will be difficult to ignore the gigantic Mercedes-Benz logo that sits atop the roof. Stadium officials determined recently that attempting to cover the German automobile brand’s star could damage the eight-piece retractable roof.

So, in a rare exception to FIFA’s rule of scrubbing stadiums of their corporate logos, the Benz will, at least cosmetically, remain the Benz during the World Cup.

When was the stadium opened, how much did it cost and who plays there normally?

It opened in 2018, replacing the outdated Georgia Dome, with reported construction costs for the new ground totalling roughly $1.6billion. It is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer side Atlanta United.

What are the most famous moments that have happened there (sporting or otherwise)?

Led by Tom Brady, the New England Patriots became NFL champions for the sixth time in Atlanta with a 13-3 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. It was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever.

Tom Brady after the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The most memorable sporting moment occurred during the college football national championship game in 2018. Alabama’s comeback win against Georgia remains one of college football’s most dramatic finishes. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the Super Bowl again in 2028.

Bizarrely, the Benz was also the temporary home of Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, in 2021. The rapper worked out a deal with stadium officials to finish Donda, his 10th studio album, while in Atlanta. The Benz hosted two sold-out Donda listening events during his stay. Ye set up a makeshift studio inside the visitors’ locker room and stayed for nearly a month. He reportedly paid $1million a day for the arrangement.

At that point, Ye was already a controversial figure, but he had not yet made the overtly antisemitic statements (including a song titled “Heil Hitler”) that caused sponsors to cut ties with him and led to a series of European shows this year being cancelled. Ye has since apologized.

How many fans can the stadium hold? And will it be at maximum capacity for the World Cup?

With the ability to expand seating for special events, the stadium can hold just under 80,000. Local officials who have helped organize Atlanta’s World Cup preparations expect to see sellout crowds for each of the city’s eight tournament matches. A college football semifinal between Ohio State and Georgia in 2023 set the stadium’s attendance record at 73,330.

The Benz is accustomed to big crowds. Atlanta United has set and broken its own MLS attendance records on multiple occasions. More than 70,000 fans attended the first game at the Benz in 2017 between Atlanta United and Orlando City. The club also set the MLS Cup final attendance record in 2018, when 73,019 supporters watched Atlanta United lift the trophy with a 2-0 win against Portland Timbers.

Miguel Almiron and Atlanta United lift the MLS Cup in 2018 (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

What kind of pitch does it have? Has it had to change for the World Cup?

The stadium features a modern, high-performance synthetic turf. In accordance with FIFA regulations, that field will be replaced by natural grass for the World Cup. Over the past two years, stadium officials have gained valuable experience in how to implement and maintain a grass pitch that can live and thrive under a dome.

It hosted two matches at the 2024 Copa America, which led to major criticism about the temporary grass field from coaches and players. A year later, the natural pitch installed for the revamped Club World Cup in the U.S. was generally well-received. The latest lighting and grass installation technologies have been used for an eight-game trial before the World Cup.

“March and April serve as a really good chance for us and our staff to play real-life soccer on grass,” said Adam Fullerton, VP of stadium operations. “It’s a good time for us to really test our systems and make sure that everything is dialed in before the exclusive period.”

In May, FIFA will replace the current grass field with its own pitch.

What are normal temperatures in June/July and will fans be sheltered at games?

Locals in Atlanta cringe when they hear tourists or musicians refer to the city as Hotlanta. It’s taboo but it cannot be debated that summers in Atlanta are notoriously, well, hot. Temperatures in the summer hover between the upper 80s and 90s Fahrenheit (roughly 30C) but the real-feel temperatures are often higher.

Luckily, fans who have tickets to World Cup games at the Benz will benefit from air conditioning. The roof will remain closed, according to stadium officials, to protect the newly installed grass from Atlanta’s scorching summer heat.

A view of the roof at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

How do I get there?

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are popular, but Atlantans will advise you to avoid the city’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. City officials have focused on improving public transportation to the stadium since World Cup planning began.

“The transportation piece is equally as important to us as the public safety piece,” Atlanta City chief operating officer LaChandra Burks told The Athletic in April 2025.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is the city’s transport operator, which includes buses and a mass transit system. There are several train stations within walking distance of the ground. According to its website, MARTA reduces Atlanta’s road traffic by more than 185,000 cars each day.

What can fans expect at the stadium?

This World Cup will be the most expensive sporting event of all time, but the Mercedez-Benz Stadium proudly boasts the most affordable concessions of any stadium in the United States.

Referred to as a fan-first pricing strategy, attendees will find that most items are priced between 2and2 and 2and7.

Is there anything else we should know about this stadium?

Get there early. Atlanta traffic is seriously bad, so be sure to plan your trips downtown appropriately. There are several sports bars near the stadium and the World Cup fan fest (free of charge) will be held throughout the tournament near the Benz, as well.

Which games are being played there?

Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches:

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