Mercedes-Benz Stadium – tournament stadium description

What will Mercedes-Benz Stadium be called during the 2026 World Cup?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be called Atlanta Stadium during the 2026 World Cup. This name change is in line with FIFA's practices, which require the use of neutral stadium names during international tournaments. The purpose of these regulations is to avoid conflicts with official tournament sponsors and to ensure that the names of sports venues do not promote specific commercial brands unrelated to the event. The name Atlanta Stadium refers to the location of the stadium, a city in the eastern part of the US, Atlanta, Georgia.

What changes will need to take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the 2026 World Cup?

Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will undergo significant upgrades. Like every other turf venue hosting the 2026 World Cup, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will install new turf to comply with FIFA rules. Planned to spend $200 million to upgrade Mercedes-Benz Stadium over the next few years, the work will be done in stages and will not be fully completed until the summer of 2026, when the venue will host World Cup matches.

Prior to the start of the World Cup, all stadiums will have to undergo tests to demonstrate whether they meet FIFA's detailed requirements for such a major event. Changes made to the venues as a result may include upgrades to the pitch surface, seating enhancements, improved accessibility and updates to stadium technology and security systems to ensure the arenas meet FIFA's international standards.

How will Mercedes-Benz Stadium be used for the 2026 World Cup?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, will host eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with five group stage matches scheduled for June,15, 18, 21, 24 and 27, one round of 32 match scheduled for July 1, one round of 16 match scheduled for July 7 and a semi-final match scheduled for July 15.

What hours will the 2026 World Cup games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium be broadcast?

The 2026 World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta are likely to be played at 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00 local time (Eastern Time). Converting these times to UK time (BST), the matches will be available for viewing at 17:00, 20:00, 23:00 and 02:00 the following day, respectively. In Australia (AEST), they will be available for viewing at 02:00, 05:00, 08:00 and 11:00 the following day. So fans in the UK will be able to watch the matches in the evening, and at night the following day. Fans in Australia will watch the matches at night and in the morning the following day.

Where is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the stadium for the 2026 World Cup, located?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located in downtown Atlanta, a major city in the state of Georgia in the southeastern United States. Atlanta is one of the most important cultural, economic and educational centres of the south-eastern US region. The city is known for its cultural diversity, historical sites, southern cuisine and as an important transport and commercial hub. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is strategically located in the heart of Atlanta, adjacent to other important venues such as the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park. It was the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. The neighbourhood is also known for its business opportunities, cultural attractions and many restaurants and hotels.

What are the characteristics of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the stadium for the 2026 World Cup?

The auditorium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is divided into two large levels, with two balconies with boxes and premium seats in between. The most valuable thing about this stadium, however, is not what the spectators sit on, but what hangs above them. The octagonal dome is a unique structure in the world, using 27,500 tonnes of steel! Of this mass, only 3,500 tonnes is weighed by the movable roof made up of 8 panels, which slides open with astonishing lightness in 12 minutes. Under the roof hangs another attraction unheard of elsewhere: a panoramic screen that uses as many as 37 million LEDs. At the time of its opening, this gave it primacy among all the screens in sports arenas, with a total area of 5793 m2. The arena's final cost approached $1.6bn, making it one of the most expensive in history.

You can learn more about Mercedes-Benz Stadium from the presentation of this stadium on our site