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Atlanta 2026 World Cup Transport Guide

How to get to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup, getting to Atlanta Stadium, and traveling around ATL during the tournament 🛫

✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 1 June 2025

Our handy Atlanta World Cup transport guide is primed to help you figure out how to get to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup, and how to get around the city and its surrounding areas.

Note: All of the information below is current. However, specific transportation guidance will be announced between now and the 2026 World Cup. Sign up to our email list so you get the latest information and deals directly to your inbox 📩 .

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Getting around Atlanta can be done without a car. It’s no Chicago or New York, but there is a train and bus system – MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) – which connects the airport to Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. And better yet, if you’re near a MARTA station, you can pretty easily get to Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).

Neighborhoods can be walkable, but once you get outside a core neighborhood, Atlanta gets harder to navigate without a car. Uber and Lyft are heavily used and will be there to help you get around the city – just expect prices to surge on game days.

Ride Like a Local: ATL 2026 World Cup transport tips

We spoke to football-loving locals to get their take on the 2026 World Cup host cities they call home. Dave McLean and Jason Hatfield are both regulars at Atlanta United games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium… sorry, Atlanta Stadium, according to FIFA.

Photos courtesy of ATL’s own Dave McLean (bottom) and Jason Hatfield (top).

Jason: Getting to the stadium is pretty easy, as MARTA has a stop a short walk from the gates. There are also plenty of parking lots nearby, but they can get pricey and I would bet they’ll be $100+ for the World Cup. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) is an option too, but be prepared for surge pricing and long waits at the end of a game.

Dave: Atlanta is very car-centric and parking lots near the stadium are not afraid to charge ridiculous amounts for a space! Atlanta is a spread out city, with lots of different enclaves of activity around the city proper. Our public transportation is mediocre on a good day. I have taken the subway to the games on occasion but aside from game day, it’s not been very useful.

Get more Atlanta in-the-know tips from Dave and Jason on our Atlanta 2026 World Cup accommodation guide and Atlanta 2026 World Cup city guide.

Flying to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has held the title of world’s busiest airport for many years. It is a connecting hub for both domestic and international travelers, and a primary hub for Delta Airlines, so finding a flight to or from Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup is not likely to be a problem.

ATL is big but never hard to navigate, thanks to the Plane Train that takes you from terminal to terminal. It is also possible to walk from one terminal to another, should you want to get all your steps in at once.

What makes ATL even better is that it is connected to Downtown Atlanta by public transportation, so if you want to make this a car-free trip, just book your accommodation along the train line and you’re golden.

Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – the primary option for flying to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup

✅ Serviced by MARTA, making it convenient to get to/from

✅ Massive international hub

✅ Easy to navigate with Plane Train

You can search for World Cup flights to Atlanta from the box below through Kiwi.com. Their tech finds flight itineraries that combine multiple airlines (they call it “Virtual Interlining”) with options that often aren’t available anywhere else. This can help streamline the booking process and increase savings.

2026 World Cup car rental in Atlanta

Will fans need a car in Atlanta for the World Cup?

No, fans attending the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta will not need a car. There is public transportation and Atlanta City Council has approved $120 million in revenue bonds to make transportation and Downtown infrastructure improvements. These include street resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. But Atlanta is, generally speaking, a driving city. So if you want to be able to explore, or make the long drive to other World Cup host cities, renting a car may be for you.

Expect higher prices for car rentals in Atlanta during the World Cup

Car rental prices in Atlanta are definitely going to get caught up in surge pricing for the expected 300,000 travelers headed to the city. This means that renting as early as possible is the smart thing to do. Choose a flexible cancellation policy (see our recommendations below 👀) so that you’re not tied down in case plans change or Atlanta ups its public transpo ante.

Atlanta car rental companies and peer-to-peer rental options

ATL offers a variety of car rental options to suit different preferences and budgets. Some of the major companies at the airport include SIXT, Hertz, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, and Avis. The airport’s Rental Car Center is accessible via SkyTrain (not to be confused with Plane Train, which is inside the secure zone of the airport) in about five minutes, from the domestic terminal.

You can also look for World Cup car rental options further outside the city, which might be cheaper, but could cost you more for the transport to/from that location.

In addition to the big car rental companies, there are also peer-to-peer car rental options like Turo, where you rent a person’s car rather than a car from a company. This option might offer increased inventory for car rentals in and around Atlanta during the 2026 World Cup.

Tip: If you’re looking for car rentals in Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup, we recommend Qeeq.com, where you will always pay the lowest price. Qeeq’s Price Drop Protector 📉 tracks prices daily, and if the rental price drops after you book, Qeeq rebooks at the lower price and saves you the difference. They offer free cancellation, no credit card fees, and you can even pay with crypto if that’s your vibe.

Alternatively, Trip.com is part of the same group as Skyscanner.com, and allows you to search car rental deals from all the big companies — with free cancellation, no credit card fees, and often with extra discounts as an incentive.

Buses to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup

Atlanta is very well-connected by bus to nearby cities in the USA. Trips to/from Charlotte, Nashville, Birmingham, Savannah, or even Orlando can range from three to seven hours. If you book in advance, buses are a convenient, affordable, and surprisingly comfortable option. Fares as low as $10-$40 if you book early.

Companies serving Atlanta are Megabus (cheap, with reserved seating and WiFi), Greyhound (extensive national network, old school option), FlixBus (new, modern fleet with frequent east coast service).

Most of these buses drop off at Atlanta’s Downtown Bus Station near MARTA stations, so you can easily connect to other parts of the city. Just be aware that on event days there might be serious bus delays, so book your trip a day before the game, or leave a big buffer to be on the safe side.

Trains to Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup

Atlanta is connected by Amtrak’s Crescent Line making it possible to travel along the east coast by train. The line runs daily between New York City and New Orleans, passing through major cities like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, and Birmingham.

Atlanta’s trains stop at Peachtree Station in Midtown, which is a small, historic station that is centrally located and close to MARTA stations and rideshare options.

If you’re coming from cities like Charlotte, Greensboro, or Washington, D.C., the train can be a relaxing and scenic way to travel. But from the north, like NYC, the journey will be a lengthy 18 hours, so only do it if you love the experience of train travel and have time to spare.

Public transport in Atlanta

Atlanta’s public transportation, mainly operated by MARTA, is efficient for visitors staying near the city’s core. Buy a Breeze Card to upload money for trip fares – a 10-day unlimited ride pass is $25, for example. The MARTA rail system connects Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and the airport, making it easy to reach major attractions without a car.

Buses expand coverage into neighborhoods not served by trains, though service can be slower outside central areas. Trains are clean, affordable, and frequent during peak hours. Rideshare options, bikes, scooters, and the Atlanta BeltLine also help travelers get around. While not as extensive as systems in New York or Chicago, MARTA is reliable and practical for most Atlanta visitors.

Using ridesharing apps in Atlanta

Uber and Lyft are, of course, available in Atlanta, and although they are plentiful and reliable, rides in the city are expected to surge on game days. Therefore, we recommend using public transport where possible and choose the ridesharing apps when you’re out of options (or want to treat yourself after a long day of watching the footy).

Waymo’s autonomous taxi service is set to expand to Atlanta, but no deets on a date. Sign up to our email list below to be the first to know!

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