Host City: Atlanta

Atlanta’s soccer journey began with early amateur clubs and international exhibitions, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Atlanta United FC in 2017 that the city truly emerged as a soccer powerhouse. The club shattered attendance records from the start and quickly became one of Major League Soccer’s most successful franchises, winning the MLS Cup in 2018. Atlanta United’s home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has become a symbol of the city’s passionate fan base and world-class sports infrastructure. The stadium will host eight matches, including a semi-final tie, from 15 June to 15 July 2026.

In 1968, the original NASL’s Atlanta Chiefs won the championship, averaging 7,000 fans per game—second-highest league attendance. In the past, Atlanta has also hosted the Olympic women’s football (1996 gold), two Super Bowls at the Georgia Dome (1993, 2000), and hosting NCAA Final Fours across multiple years. Today, MLS’s Atlanta United broke stand-alone match attendance records with 71,874 spectators in 2017 and holds the single-season attendance crown.