FIFA World Cup 2026: Your Complete Guide From Atlanta
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Atlanta is one of 16 host cities. It is hosting eight matches, including a semifinal, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That makes this city one of the most important venues in the entire tournament.
This is SDH Network's coverage home for the 2026 World Cup. We are a soccer media company based in Atlanta, and we cover this tournament the way we cover everything: with context, depth, and a Southern perspective on why it matters. Everything we publish on the World Cup lives here.
Atlanta's Matches: The Full Schedule
Atlanta is hosting five group stage matches, a Round of 32, a Round of 16, and a semifinal. The first match kicks off June 15. The semifinal is July 15.
Atlanta's World Cup 2026 Matches: Full Schedule, Teams, and What to Expect
That page covers every match in detail: the teams, the stakes, what to watch for, and results as they come in. It is updated through July 15. Start there.
The Tournament: What You Need to Know
48 Teams. 104 Matches. A New Format.
The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, expanded from the 32-team field used from 1998 through 2022. That expansion changes how the tournament works at every stage.
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group stage matches. The top two teams from each group advance automatically to the knockout rounds. The eight best third-place finishers also advance. That means 32 teams survive the group stage and enter the bracket.
The bracket introduces a new round that did not exist in previous World Cups: the Round of 32. From there, the tournament proceeds through the Round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the final. One loss in any knockout round and you are out.
Atlanta hosts matches in the Round of 32 (July 1), the Round of 16 (July 7), and the semifinal (July 15). The World Cup Final is held July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Groups
All 12 groups are confirmed following the Final Draw on December 5, 2025 and the playoffs held in March 2026.
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, Czechia, South Africa
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Atlanta hosts matches from Groups A, C, H, and K in the group stage.
The Host Cities
Sixteen cities across three countries are hosting matches. The eleven U.S. cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. Mexico hosts matches in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Canada hosts in Toronto and Vancouver.
The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico vs. South Africa. The final is July 19 in East Rutherford.
How to Watch in the United States
Every match in the 2026 World Cup is broadcast in English on the Fox family of networks: Fox and FS1. Streaming is available through the Fox Sports app and Fubo TV. Spanish-language broadcasts are on Telemundo and Peacock.
Atlanta's matches are on Fox or FS1. Check local listings for the specific channel for each match. All kickoff times listed on SDH are Eastern Time.
First-Time Nations
Four countries are appearing in the World Cup for the first time in 2026: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Cabo Verde plays two of their three group stage matches in Atlanta. DR Congo and Haiti are returning after their only previous World Cup appearance in 1974.
The Venue
Every Atlanta match is played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the downtown home of Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons. During the tournament it is officially branded Atlanta Stadium under FIFA naming rules. The stadium seats approximately 71,000 for soccer. It has a retractable roof, climate control, and a signature halo video board circling the field. It hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and the 2018 MLS Cup. It is one of the finest sports facilities in the world.
Getting there: The MARTA rail system connects directly to downtown. The Vine City station (Green and Blue lines) and the Georgia Dome/Mercedes-Benz Stadium station are both within walking distance. MARTA is the recommended option for match days. Parking is available but pre-booking is strongly advised.
SDH Network World Cup Coverage
SDH Network is Atlanta's soccer media company. We host Atlanta Soccer Tonight on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game during the tournament, covering every match in Atlanta and following the bracket through the final. Morning Espresso, our daily soccer newsletter, publishes World Cup coverage every day from June through July 19.
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This page is updated throughout the tournament. Last updated: April 2026.