City of Atlanta Announces ATL26 Human Rights Legacy Initiatives ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™

City of Atlanta Announces ATL26 Human Rights Legacy Initiatives ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™

ATLANTA - Following the public launch of the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of One Atlanta is advancing the next phase of this work by operationalizing the plan's Legacy Impact Initiatives through community programs, public resources and citywide activations connected to FIFA World Cup 2026™.

These efforts build on the principle that FIFA World Cup 2026™ should happen with Atlanta-not to Atlanta. Each initiative outlined below connects directly to the Plan's legacy commitments-including Youth Advancement and Support, Major Sporting Event Accessibility Readiness, Pride Programming, Human Rights Ecosystem Mapping and Advancing Local Expertise and Remedy.

Together, these activations reflect Mayor Andre Dickens' commitment to ensuring the world's largest sporting event creates lasting benefit for Atlanta residents, youth, families, workers and visitors-before, during and long after the tournament concludes.

"With roughly 40 days until the matches, the One Atlanta team is leveraging our people power and partnerships to ensure memories, experiences and opportunities for Atlantans that will impact them long after our last Semi-final match concludes," said City of Atlanta Chief Impact Officer Candace Stanciel. "From youth leadership development to accessibility preparedness to the only city-wide adaptive soccer experience, we believe our work to ensure a culture of hospitality, inclusion and protections for all will be central to how we understand and remember this important moment in Atlanta's history."

FIFA Community Engagement Calendar

The Human Rights Engagement Calendar allows residents, partners and visitors to stay connected to upcoming events, public programs and community opportunities.

Link: canva.link/atlcalendar

Moving Her Forward Capstone

As part of the Human Rights Plan's Youth Advancement and Support legacy initiative, the City of Atlanta is launching the Moving Her Forward Capstone, a virtual leadership experience for girls and youth across FIFA World Cup 2026™ host countries. The ATL26 Executive Summary specifically identifies the Moving HER Forward Global Capstone as part of the Plan's Youth & Children focus area, along with programming connected to the UNICEF USA's Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Powered by the Mayor's Office of One Atlanta, the Capstone is designed to help participants explore leadership, child rights, civic engagement and personal growth while building a stronger sense of identity, possibility and power.

The Capstone will be available from now through October and will culminate in a virtual celebration on Friday, October 9, during the City of Atlanta's International Day of the Girl Celebration.

Capstone Link: bit.ly/atlcapstone

ATL Pride Activations

The City will support ATL Pride activations connected to the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan's Pride Programming legacy initiative, which calls for FIFA-connected LGBTQ+ community events with health, legal and support resource distribution.

On Friday, June 12 at 5 pm, the Mayor's Office of One Atlanta's Division of LGBTQ Affairs, in partnership with Woofs Sports Bar, will launch Pride House Atlanta, a welcoming hub for LGBTQ+ fans, residents and visitors throughout FIFA World Cup 2026™.

The kickoff celebration will bring together community resources, culture, local leaders, partners and soccer fans for an evening centered on belonging, visibility and global pride. Guests will experience Pride House Atlanta as a welcoming tournament-season hub through curated engagement, affirming resources and opportunities to connect with organizations supporting LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.

For more information, please visit woofsatlanta.com and follow the Division's Instagram page @COALGBTQ

ATL SoccerFest

On Saturday, June 13, the City of Atlanta will host ATL SoccerFest at Mozley Park, a free community-centered soccer experience open to youth, families and residents.

ATL SoccerFest supports several ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan priorities, including Youth Advancement and Support and Career in Sports and Training. The event will feature soccer activities, a community tournament, youth engagement, community resources and a blind soccer experience for all led in partnership with the City's Division of Disability Access and ADA Compliance, Georgia Blind Sports Association.

The event will also include a live podcast experience led by the Centre for Sport and Human Rights' Generation26 Youth Council members with VOX ATL and UNICEF USA, highlighting the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31-the child's right to play.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, June 13, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: Mozley Park Greenspace, 1565 Martin Luther King Jr Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Registration Link: bit.ly/atlsoccerfest

Accessibility Resources

The City of Atlanta is also advancing recommendations for Major Sporting Event Accessibility Readiness. The ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan calls for accessibility readiness work, including ADA walk-throughs with the disability community, WCAG 2.1 AA digital compliance, MARTA Mobility services, workforce disability awareness training and adaptive sports programming.

Accessibility resources, including the City's accessibility guide and related information, will be made available through the City's website to support residents, visitors, event organizers and partners as Atlanta prepares to host FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Human Relations Commission and Human Rights Reporting

As part of the Plan's Access to Remedy pillar and Advancing Local Expertise and Remedy legacy initiative, the City of Atlanta Human Relations Commission is available as a resource for residents and visitors seeking support related to discrimination or human rights concerns. The ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan identifies the Human Relations Commission as a primary anti-discrimination mechanism and calls for expanded community outreach, specialized training and improved access to complaint systems.

Individuals who believe they have experienced or witnessed a human rights issue may report concerns through the City's Human Relations Commission complaint process.

How to Report a Human Rights Issue: FIFA's Compliance Form

The City of Atlanta remains committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all people who live in, work in, and visit Atlanta.

A Legacy Beyond the Games

These efforts represent the City's continued implementation of the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan and its commitment to making FIFA World Cup 2026™ a model for what happens when human rights are placed at the center of global celebration.

For more information about the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, click here to read the press release: City of Atlanta Publicly Launches ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™ | News List | Atlanta, GA

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta.