Atlanta is one of the best-positioned host cities in the tournament. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is downtown, world-class, and already a proven major event venue. The city has a strong football culture through Atlanta United, great food, and a warm climate in June. It rewards exploration beyond the stadium.
Getting to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium sits in downtown Atlanta, steps from State Farm Arena and the CNN Center. It seats 71,000 and regularly hosts major events including the College Football Playoff and Copa América 2024.
By MARTA: The Mercedes-Benz Stadium/State Farm Arena MARTA station is directly connected to the venue. Lines run from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (25 minutes) and from all major neighbourhood stations. The cleanest, fastest option.
On foot: If you're staying in downtown, Midtown, or Castleberry Hill, you can walk. The BeltLine connects several neighbourhoods.
By car: Parking garages surround the stadium. Expect post-match congestion on I-75 and I-85.
From Hartsfield-Jackson Airport: 25 minutes by MARTA Gold or Red Line directly to the stadium station.
Best Fan Bars in Atlanta
Der Biergarten (Downtown): German beer hall adjacent to the stadium. Excellent match-day atmosphere, outdoor space, pretzel the size of a steering wheel. The obvious pre-match choice.
Park Bar (Downtown): Steps from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Multiple screens, straightforward beer list, reliable match-day crowd.
Midtown Tavern (Midtown): The football bar in Midtown. Full Premier League and Champions League coverage, strong local following from the Atlanta United supporter base.
The Bookhouse Pub (Inman Park): Neighbourhood pub with good screen coverage and a more relaxed atmosphere than the downtown options.
Where to Stay in Atlanta
Midtown: The best neighbourhood base in Atlanta. Walkable, dense with restaurants and bars, MARTA access to the stadium. Piedmont Park is here.
Inman Park: Historic Victorian neighbourhood, excellent independent restaurant scene, BeltLine access.
Old Fourth Ward: The neighbourhood that has changed most in the past decade. Ponce City Market, BeltLine trail, and a rapidly improving food scene.
Downtown: Convenient for the stadium and convention traffic. More functional than interesting, but useful if you have multiple matches.
Neighbourhoods Worth Your Time
Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward): Converted Sears building with a food hall, shops, and rooftop mini-golf. The best single destination for an afternoon in Atlanta.
The BeltLine: 22 miles of trails connecting Atlanta's neighbourhoods on a former railway corridor. Walking or cycling from Inman Park to Midtown is one of the better city experiences in the US.
Virginia-Highland: Tree-lined streets, independent restaurants and bars, genuine neighbourhood character. Good for a slower afternoon.
Sweet Auburn: The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK Historic Site and the Big Bethel AME Church are both worth visiting.
Food Atlanta Is Proud Of
Staplehouse (Old Fourth Ward): Tasting menu restaurant from a James Beard Award-winning kitchen. Restrained, seasonal, and among the best meals in the American South. Book well ahead.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q (Lake Claire): Texas-style BBQ cooked by Texans who moved to Atlanta and brought the technique with them. Brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage, and banana pudding.
Slutty Vegan (multiple): The phenomenon. Plant-based burgers with names you cannot say in polite company. Lines that suggest the hype is real.
Chai Pani (Decatur): Indian street food from Asheville chef Meherwan Irani. Bhel puri, kati rolls, and masala fries. James Beard winner and genuinely excellent.
Mary Mac's Tea Room (Midtown): The classic Atlanta institution. Chicken and dumplings, fried okra, sweet tea. Operating since 1945 and still busy.