Fifa-World-Cup on WACN 21 News

World Cup: DR Congo and Uzbekistan face off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:15:00 -0400

The eyes of the soccer world turn to Atlanta tonight as Mercedes-Benz Stadium (officially referred to as Atlanta Stadium for the duration of the tournament) hosts a crucial Group K finale between DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 27, 2026. This match represents the third and final round of the group stage for both nations.

The Stakes: Knockout dreams vs. pride

For both teams, this match is a critical milestone in their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns, though their objectives differ significantly:

Atlanta United loan contracts expire as World Cup stadium takeover continues

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 06:15:00 -0400

The FIFA World Cup has officially taken over Atlanta, but for Atlanta United, the global tournament brings a quiet roster transition and a historically long road trip.

The club confirmed this week that defender Juan Berrocal and midfielder Matías Galarza will officially depart the team when their loan agreements expire on June 30, 2026. The departures come at a strange time for the franchise, which is currently in the middle of a month-long MLS schedule pause while Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the world’s biggest soccer matches.

World Cup Atlanta: What to know before kickoff — from security perimeters to MARTA extra service

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

When Atlanta hosts its first FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Monday — at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the city will be running the largest international sporting event it has ever hosted, bigger than the 1996 Olympics in pure crowd-management terms.

Eight matches over four weeks, including a semifinal, with cumulative attendance expected to exceed 700,000. Add in the FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park and the international broadcast operations that will stage out of CNN Center, and the operational footprint is, by every measure, unprecedented for the city.

FIFA Fan Festival Opens at Centennial Olympic Park as Atlanta Gears Up for World Cup Matches

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

The world’s biggest sporting event has arrived in Atlanta, and the party is already underway.

The official FIFA Fan Festival opened Wednesday at Centennial Olympic Park, transforming the 22-acre green space into a vibrant, open-air celebration of international soccer that will run through July 19. The festival serves as the city’s central gathering point for fans who want to experience the energy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — whether or not they hold a ticket to a match inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.