Decatur announces 2026 World Cup watch party experience

Caption

Mayor Patti Garrett at the Decatur Watchfest announcement event wearing a shirt with the event logo on May 6, 2025.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

As Atlanta gears up to host eight games of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the city of Decatur, just east of Atlanta, announced it will be holding watch parties for all 104 FIFA matches from 16 host cities.

Decatur Watchfest will take place in Decatur Square offering music, games, food, and drinks for all soccer fans.

Mayor Patti Garret says the best part is the 34 days of festivities are all on top of the Decatur MARTA train station.

“You can be at the official FIFA FanFest and matches in downtown Atlanta in less than 15 minutes,” Garrett said. “You can't drive that fast, let me just tell you.”

Local restaurants and bars will also stream the games for fans to watch indoors.

Decatur City Commissioner Kelly Walsh said they're preparing to welcome a diverse soccer fan base.

"We all know there's economic development in this endeavor, but there's community to be built and broadened as well, and that's why we're excited to invite the world, but also bring our own community even closer," she said.

MARTA will be running additional trains to and from downtown Atlanta after all local matches. Chief of Staff Steven Parker said the transit system will have some technological updates before World Cup visitors arrive.

“We're also looking at enhancing our tap-to-pay features. So people will be able to pay with a card, or with their watches, or their phones,” Parker said, “as well as redesigning our entire bus network system that'll create some efficiencies with getting people around the city.”

Parker said an updated MARTA app and a team of on-site ambassadors will be available assist visitors navigating the metro area.

The World Cup will begin June 11, 2026. The first game of the Cup held in Atlanta is set for June 15 that year.