Friday, October 23, 2026

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $1.6 billion arena renamed for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Per FIFA regulations for the World Cup, the stadium will be temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium for the 39-day tournament.

• May 18, 2026
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the most iconic grounds in the United States. It is one of the 11 venues selected to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Per FIFA regulations for the World Cup, the stadium will be temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium for the 39-day tournament. The rebranding affects 15 out of the 16 venues designated to stage World Cup matches.

The construction of the stadium started in 2014 and was completed three years later in 2027, costing an estimated $1.6 billion. It is the home of the National Football League franchise, the Atlanta Falcons.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is also the home of Major League Soccer side Atlanta United and will also house a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team scheduled to make their debut in 2028.

The stadium features a retractable roof and expandable stands, which can be extended from the original 71,000 capacity to 75,000 for American football games and at least 73,000 for football matches.

Additionally, it has the world’s largest 360-degree “Halo” video board (63,000 sq ft, 58 feet tall) that encircles the roof opening, offering immersive views from every seat.

With over 20 event rooms and unmatched event space, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium provides premium amenities, fully customizable experiences, dedicated event team staff, and state-of-the-art technology that will transform your event into a unique and unforgettable experience, according to the stadium’s website.

The highest attendance at the venue was recorded in December 2022, when 79,330 people attended the Peach Bowl, a college American football play-off semi-final between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs.

In football, the 2018 MLS Cup match between Atlanta United and Portland Timbers holds the record for the largest attendance, with over 73,000 people attending.  

The stadium has staged iconic sports events, including the College American Football Playoff National Championship and the 2029 Super Bowl. It has also been selected to host the 2028 Super Bowl.

Some famous musicians have also performed at the venue. Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, The Weekend, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Coldplay, and many others have performed at the stadium.

During the World Cup group stage, Spain and Cape Verde will face off at the stadium, as will Morocco vs Haiti. Spain will also play another group match against Saudi Arabia at the venue.

The group stage matches involving Czechia vs South Africa, Morocco vs Haiti, and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan are set for the group stage, as well as one round of 32, one round of 16, and one semifinal tie. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

police

States

Police arrest man for allegedly stabbing colleague to death over cash wash fee

The police said the suspect is in custody and that the investigation is ongoing.

Vincent Kompany

Sport

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany rushed to hospital after collapsing during training

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has reportedly been rushed to a hospital in Munich after collapsing during a training session.

Gunmen

States

One killed, three injured as gunmen attack NDC candidate’s convoy in Ebonyi

The candidate said suspected political thugs attacked his motorcade and set his Toyota Hilux vehicle ablaze.

Police

Abuja

Abuja police ‌nab seven suspects over kidnapping, murder

Mr Victor said the arrest followed actionable intelligence, in collaboration with vigilante operatives and other security agencies.

Suspected cultist

Education

Three secondary school students arrested during cult initiation in Ogun

The command spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, told journalists on Friday that one suspect is 12 years old, while the other two are 18.