Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been probably the most distinguished venues in the USA over the previous decade. Since its opening in 2017, the stadium has hosted a string of large occasions, from Tremendous Bowls to worldwide soccer matches. Now, it’s set to tackle one other international stage as one of many venues for the 2026 World Cup.
After internet hosting six matches on the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup, the house of the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Atlanta Drive GC, and PGA TOUR Superstore will stage eight World Cup video games in 2026. Positioned within the coronary heart of downtown Atlanta, the venue is anticipated to drive a significant wave of tourism as followers pour into town for the event.
World Soccer Discuss spoke with AMB Sports activities and Leisure Chief Working Officer Dietmar Exler, the previous Mercedes-Benz USA CEO. Forward of the 2026 World Cup, he mentioned the teachings discovered from the Membership World Cup and why Mercedes-Benz Stadium might function inspiration for PSG’s new dwelling.
Mercedes-Benz stadium and a busy schedule
Even past the Membership World Cup, operations by no means decelerate. Mercedes-Benz Stadium presently hosts 55 to 60 public occasions annually, starting from worldwide soccer to NFL preseason video games and live shows in between. And in accordance with Exler, each single occasion is handled with the identical significance.
Publish Malone acting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Crucial occasion for us is at all times the subsequent occasion. Whoever is the promoter, even when it’s a comparatively small occasion within the worldwide scale, for that promoter is a big occasion. We at all times as a stadium have to offer that promoter and everyone our full, undivided consideration. Some occasions are greater than others, there’s little question about that. And there’s additionally the large occasions the place your complete metropolis is concerned, not solely the stadium, however its whole infrastructure, however each occasion is majorly essential.”
The significance of working with confederations beforehand
Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s preparation for 2026 has been formed by its function in internet hosting main worldwide soccer occasions, together with the Membership World Cup and Copa América. These experiences, together with friendlies that includes nationwide groups, have supplied beneficial alternatives to work with governing our bodies.
“We had a couple of various things, however for us, this was the best setup. We had Mexico nationwide staff to play right here, we additionally had final 12 months the USWNT, so we had worldwide soccer matches. The Membership World Cup 6 matches and within the FIFA 2026 World Cup will probably be 8 matches, that permits us to work with CONMEBOL, with CONCACAF, with FIFA, and to essentially get to know one another.”
Exler pressured that collaborating with confederations forward of time has been essential for ironing out logistics and creating a greater expertise for each followers and gamers.
The Canada Group and the Argentina Group line up for the nationwide anthem previous to the CONMEBOL Copa America group A match towards Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 20, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The final Copa was the primary time to essentially work intently with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, with FIFA observing within the background. However for the opening they have been all right here, so it was a course of to get to know one another. When you come to the stadium for the primary time, you might need concepts however it gained’t movement as a lot, so the Copa made it a lot simpler for the CWC as a result of we already knew one another a bit, and the companions knew the stadium.
“From Copa to CWC we did change some issues: Media checking, we addressed it; operational behind-the-curtain subjects, after which on the CWC, we simply completed a gathering with FIFA final week, longer discussions about what labored, what didn’t work, what ought to be adjusted for 2026. To have this row of Copa, CWC, and World Cup to get to know one another makes it a lot simpler.”
Pure grass: The brand-new characteristic
Synthetic turf has lengthy been a criticism amongst soccer gamers, notably in NFL stadiums. With the 2026 World Cup in thoughts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium launched pure grass for the Membership World Cup — a transfer Exler stated was met with robust approval: “We put in pure grass for the primary time on the Membership World Cup. It went rather well. We obtained wonderful suggestions from groups and from FIFA, and we’re going to construct on that.”
The grass for 2026 will probably be laid in February of that 12 months forward of the MLS season. Because of the stadium’s retractable roof, the floor might be maintained sustainably regardless of Atlanta’s local weather. “It was an enormous confidence increase to see it work in our surroundings,” Exler stated. “We will develop grass right here even when the roof is open.”
Basic view contained in the stadium in the course of the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025 spherical of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Safety classes after Copa América remaining controversy
The 2024 Copa América remaining was marred by chaos at Onerous Rock Stadium, the place followers broke by way of boundaries, delaying the match by 82 minutes and creating harmful overcrowding. Decided to keep away from a repeat, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Atlanta authorities have been making ready totally.
Exler highlighted the distinction between American soccer and worldwide soccer, and the steps his staff has taken: “In American soccer you’ll be able to go to each sport together with your spouse and kids and just about sit in each a part of the stadium, we don’t need to separate followers, they may say issues to one another, however there’s actually no violence.
“Since we’re not used to that sort of violence in American soccer, we’ve already began a 12 months and a half in the past with our safety staff to go all the way in which to Germany and spend three days with the German authorities, went to 2 or three totally different venues, to not view the match, however to work with the police and the stadium securities.
“Final 12 months we went to Manchester United, to England, the place followers, for a soccer match, need to be 100% separated. It is a international idea for many of American stadiums, however there we noticed the safety work, and once I say we, it’s not solely the safety from the stadium, but additionally the Atlanta police division.”
Atlanta United followers celebrating a staff’s objective on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium additionally enforces a strict anti-fireworks protocol, confiscating gadgets at entry or ejecting followers who sneak them in. The coverage has been efficient, and organizers have been working with FIFA and fan teams to coordinate protected arrival routes to the venue alongside legislation enforcement, one other methodology to be carried out in 2026.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, an inspiration for PSG’s new dwelling?
One of many highlights of the Membership World Cup was the quarterfinal between PSG and Bayern Munich, which Exler described as easy from an operational standpoint. With PSG planning to go away Parc des Princes for a brand new stadium, Atlanta’s venue has served as a mannequin.
“I ended speaking lots with the enterprise director of Paris Saint-Germain, they performed right here twice, and so they needed a non-public tour of the stadium. After the primary time right here, they known as me and stated, ‘We’re constructing a brand new stadium for PSG, we’re looking at different stadiums, I wish to stroll by way of the entire stadium, present we what you suppose it really works rather well, but additionally what you’d not do once more.’ As now we have finished the identical between MLS stadiums and golf equipment, why we shouldn’t with PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain teammates stand collectively previous to enjoying within the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025 quarter-final match towards FC Bayern München at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“They stated ‘we’re extraordinarily grateful, we have been anxious about how does it work out as a result of we weren’t right here ever,’ and the suggestions was fairly effectively. Additionally they requested me for a go to to the Atlanta Falcons locker room, so I gave them a tour: Household areas, medical areas, what sort of gear is used. It really works rather well, the grass was nice, and that they might see a distinction from an amazing stadium in Europe. The air con within the stadium has additionally helped us to guard the followers from the warmth, so the suggestions was nice.”
