FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2026
LET MARTA DRIVE YOU TO
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 MATCHES & EVENTS
ATLANTA – As the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026
approaches, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) remains
focused on providing a safe, clean, and reliable world-class transit experience
for visitors and Metro Atlanta residents.
Operational Plan
To meet the ridership
demand of the global tournament, MARTA will implement a high-capacity service
plan beginning Thursday, June 11, that includes:
- Increased Rail Frequency: On match and fan fest days, MARTA will increase
rail service to five-minute headways, ensuring fans can reach the stadium
and fan zones with minimal wait times.
- Rapid Response Bus Fleet: A minimum of 30 buses will be staged as a rapid
response fleet, including vans positioned at five strategic stations to
mitigate any potential service disruptions.
- Crowd Control Strategies: Match day service will include deploying
specialized shuttle trains for crowd egress from Atlanta Stadium and
maintaining standby bus fleets to respond to real-time ridership surges.
As part of its crowd control measures, MARTA urges customers to use all
rail stations located in Downtown Atlanta near the stadium and
entertainment district, including SEC District, Vine City, Five Points,
Peachtree Center, and Garnett Stations.
- Extended Support: MARTA
Transit Ambassadors will provide up to 12 hours of daily coverage on both
match and non-match days to assist with wayfinding and crowd
management.
Safety & Security
At MARTA, the safety of
our customers and employees is our highest priority. The MARTA Police
Department is working with partner law enforcement and public service agencies,
as well as FIFA, to provide a unified secure environment.
MARTA Police officers
are working 10- and 12-hour shifts, six days a week patrolling trains,
stations, buses, bus transfer hubs, and parking lots. A contingent of officers with Denver’s transit
agency will offer additional support and visibility and sworn MPD officers on
desk duty have been reassigned to patrol trains and station platforms.
MARTA Police officers in
the Real Time Crime Center are monitoring the system around the
clock through a massive network of cameras and using technology to quickly
identify criminals.
Additionally, officers
will be stationed in the Mobile Command Vehicle positioned at key
locations throughout the city. MPD’s Emergency Preparedness Unit will activate
MARTA’s Emergency Operations Center starting June 11, and continuing for
all match and fan fest days, staffed with key personnel from across the
Authority to monitor system operations and safety and respond quickly.
System Improvements
MARTA has modernized key
downtown rail stations, including the renaming of the Dome/GWCC/Philips
Arena/CNN Center Station to the Sports, Entertainment and Convention (SEC)
District Station to improve navigation for international guests.
At Five Points Station,
MARTA has paused major exterior construction to ensure a festive atmosphere,
wrapping the perimeter in a massive mural by local artist Vera Zeigler to
provide a polished, welcoming environment for visitors. These efforts, combined
with substantial rehabilitation work on the Five Points Station platform level
as well as Airport, Garnett, and Peachtree Center Stations, ensure MARTA
reflects the best of Atlanta.
Customer Experience
To simplify the transit
experience, MARTA has implemented its modernized Breeze fare payment system
that allows customers to tap to pay with a bank card, mobile wallet, or virtual
Breeze card directly at fare gates and validators.
For those who prefer a
physical souvenir, MARTA is producing 100,000
commemorative World Cup-branded Breeze cards featuring two unique
designs that will be available in ticket vending machines.
The agency’s
people-centered support strategy will feature hundreds of Transit Ambassadors
who will provide 12 hours of daily coverage to assist customers with using
MARTA and finding their way around the city. In addition to MARTA staff, 100
FIFA volunteers will be stationed throughout the system to provide personalized
navigation assistance in multiple languages.
Let MARTA Drive
MARTA’s goal is to
ensure that every fan, whether arriving from around the world or
right next door can focus on the matches, events, and celebrations while MARTA
handles the drive.
For more information on
MARTA’s World Cup plan, please visit MARTA.