Atlanta Celebrates Successful Hosting of FIFA World Cup 2026

WHO:

CBS News - Atlanta city leaders, including Mayor Andre Dickens, Georgia State University criminal justice professor Dr. Thaddeus Johnson, and Emory University economist Dr. Raymond Hill.

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University President Kathy S. Schwaig, KSU staff members, and students.

Washington Examiner - President Donald Trump, Andrew Giuliani, and Kash Patel, Director of the FBI.

Rough Draft Atlanta - Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, Assistant Fire Chief Terrance Simon, and Department of Transportation Commissioner Solomon Caviness.

WHAT:

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University hosted training sessions for nine national teams, supported by more than 70 KSU staff members and students, emphasizing a collaborative approach across various campus units.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium achieved a 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, diverting 407,560 pounds of composted material and 94,000 pounds of recycled glass and cardboard.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 8,500 pounds of food were recovered and donated to Atlantans in need through Second Helpings Atlanta.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - More than 800 pieces of furniture were donated to the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta after the tournament.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 3,000 pounds of fabric were recovered and donated to re:loom for upcycling.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 79 terabytes of data were used on stadium Wi-Fi across the tournament, equivalent to more than 220 million selfies posted from the stands.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 18.3 terabytes of data were used during the semifinal match alone, the second-highest total for any event in stadium history.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium served 44,763 burgers and 42,363 bags of popcorn during the World Cup matches.

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University hosted training sessions for nine national teams at the Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park, with support from over 70 staff members and students.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium achieved a 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, diverting 407,560 pounds of composted material and 94,000 pounds of recycled glass and cardboard.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium served nearly 1.4 million food and beverage items across more than 585,000 transactions during the tournament.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 118,054 Coca-Cola souvenir cups were sold during the World Cup matches.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 175,565 bottles of Dasani water were served during the tournament.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 44,763 burgers and 42,363 bags of popcorn were sold during the World Cup matches.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - More than 800 pieces of furniture were donated to the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta after the tournament.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - 3,000 pounds of fabric were recovered and donated to re:loom for upcycling.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium achieved a 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, diverting 407,560 pounds of composted material and 94,000 pounds of recycled glass and cardboard.

Rough Draft Atlanta - The Atlanta Police Department reported that officers took 212 guns off the streets and served six high-risk warrants during the tournament, with about 150 arrests made by federal agents related to human trafficking and child exploitation charges.

Rough Draft Atlanta - The Atlanta Department of Transportation coordinated more than 4 million MARTA trips and 600,000 micro-mobility trips on scooters and e-bikes during the tournament.

CBS News - Atlanta hosted eight matches during the FIFA World Cup, with crime in entertainment districts dropping 18% compared to the same period the previous year.

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University hosted training sessions for nine national teams, supported by over 70 staff and students.

Washington Examiner - The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the largest in history, with 78 matches across 11 cities and over 6.8 million fans attending.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium welcomed 544,516 fans across eight matches and served nearly 1.4 million food and beverage items.

Rough Draft Atlanta - The Atlanta Police Department deployed over 1,800 sworn officers and 500 civilian staff during the tournament.

WHERE:

CBS News - Atlanta, Georgia.

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park, Atlanta Stadium, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Washington Examiner - 11 U.S. host cities for the World Cup.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

WHEN:

Cobb Courier - The FIFA World Cup took place during June and July.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The tournament included matches from June 15 to July 15.

Rough Draft Atlanta - The press conference discussing the World Cup's success occurred on July 22.

WHY:

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University's role in the World Cup demonstrated how higher education supports Georgia's economic success statewide, emphasizing access to talent as a key driver of economic development.

CBS News - City officials attributed the drop in crime to effective public safety operations during the World Cup.

Cobb Courier - Kennesaw State University emphasized its role in supporting Georgia's economic success through hosting international events.

Washington Examiner - The Trump administration aimed to ensure a secure and successful World Cup through extensive planning and coordination.

HOW:

Washington Examiner - The FBI led the first-of-its-kind counter-UAS training, establishing the National Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Center at Redstone Arsenal to train and deputize state and local law enforcement officers to counter drone threats.

Washington Examiner - The FBI mobilized 59 Homeland Security Task Forces for the World Cup, enhancing interagency coordination against threats.

Washington Examiner - The FBI mobilized nearly 5,000 personnel for the World Cup, including 59 Homeland Security Task Forces, and conducted almost 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and other personnel.

Rough Draft Atlanta - The Atlanta Police Department deployed over 1,800 sworn officers and 500 civilian staff during the tournament, with officers taking 212 guns off the streets and serving six high-risk warrants.

Washington Examiner - The FBI mobilized nearly 5,000 personnel for the World Cup, including more than 4,000 from the field and 800 from FBI headquarters, and conducted almost 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and other personnel.

CBS News - More than 200 local, state, and federal agencies coordinated security efforts during the World Cup.

Cobb Courier - KSU's training sessions were supported by various campus units, demonstrating a collaborative approach.

Washington Examiner - The FBI conducted nearly 300,000 background checks and mobilized 5,000 personnel for security.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - The stadium achieved a 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, showcasing its sustainability efforts.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 01:24 UTC)

Kennesaw State University recently hosted training sessions for nine national teams, with the support of over 70 staff members and students, showcasing a collaborative effort across various campus units. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Stadium achieved an impressive 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of material while also recovering and donating food and furniture to local organizations. Additionally, the FBI established the National Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Center at Redstone Arsenal, mobilizing 59 Homeland Security Task Forces to enhance interagency coordination against potential threats during the World Cup.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 19:22 UTC)

Kennesaw State University recently hosted training sessions for nine national teams at its Sports and Entertainment Park, supported by over 70 dedicated staff members and students. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Stadium achieved an impressive 91% waste diversion rate during the tournament, successfully diverting more than 407,000 pounds of composted material and recycling nearly 94,000 pounds of glass and cardboard. In addition to serving almost 1.4 million food and beverage items, the stadium also donated over 800 pieces of furniture and 3,000 pounds of fabric for upcycling after the event.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 17:21 UTC)

Kennesaw State University recently hosted training sessions for nine national teams, with the support of over 70 staff members and students, showcasing a collaborative effort across various campus units. During the tournament, Mercedes-Benz Stadium achieved an impressive 91% waste diversion rate, successfully diverting more than 407,000 pounds of composted material and nearly 100,000 pounds of recycled glass and cardboard. In addition, the Atlanta Police Department reported significant law enforcement actions, including the removal of 212 guns from the streets and about 150 arrests related to human trafficking and child exploitation, while the FBI mobilized nearly 5,000 personnel and conducted almost 300,000 background checks on those involved in the event.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 16:23 UTC)

Atlanta recently celebrated a successful FIFA World Cup, hosting eight matches that attracted over 544,000 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where nearly 1.4 million food and beverage items were served. City officials, including Mayor Andre Dickens, reported an 18% drop in crime in entertainment districts during the event, attributing this success to effective public safety operations and the deployment of over 1,800 police officers. Kennesaw State University played a vital role by hosting training sessions for nine national teams, supported by more than 70 staff and students, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the community. The tournament, which ran from June 15 to July 15, was the largest in history, featuring 78 matches across 11 cities and drawing more than 6.8 million fans overall. Security measures were extensive, with the FBI conducting nearly 300,000 background checks and mobilizing 5,000 personnel to ensure a safe environment for all attendees.