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ATLANTA - With the completion of eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is highlighting the success of its comprehensive traffic management efforts, which helped more than 1 million fans safely and efficiently navigate the state throughout the tournament. The metric for evaluating the state's performance includes a No. 1 ranking of the Atlanta venue by The Athletic/New York Times, which gave the city a 9 out of 10 rating for transportation.
"The department's long history of successfully managing transportation operations for world-class events in Atlanta has prepared us for the scale and complexity of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is essentially the equivalent of hosting eight Super Bowls in a single month," said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. "I'm proud of our staff for stepping up to the challenge and working with our longstanding coalition of state and city stakeholders, to deliver safe, efficient and coordinated transportation operations."
Across eight matches and 19 fan events, Georgia DOT utilized innovative traffic management strategies to minimize disruptions to the traveling public. These efforts helped the department effectively manage more than 200 team and VIP escorts while consistently meeting its goal of keeping travel time increases to no more than half of a normal trip. During Atlanta's month of hosting FIFA World Cup matches, Georgia DOT tracked:
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24 percent increase in traffic volume at event areas, yet travel times increased by only 3 percent.
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69 percent increase for a typical month in website traffic on Georgia DOT's 511 website.
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37,000 pedestrians crossing Northside Drive per game.
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13,000-plus interstate incidents resulting in 6,000-plus Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) assists.
Georgia DOT's successful transportation management during the 2026 FIFA World Cup was made possible through continued collaboration between the department, state and local partners including Mercedes-Benz Stadium (temporarily rebranded as "Atlanta Stadium" due to FIFA's corporate sponsor rules), the World Congress Center, Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT), Atlanta Police Department (APD), Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). The department is proud to work alongside these partners to help deliver a safe, efficient and coordinated transportation experience for residents and visitors while showcasing Atlanta as a world-class destination.
To learn more about Georgia DOT's World Cup preparations, listen to the department's podcast, Ahead of the Curve, in the episode titled "FIFA World Cup 2026."
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