This summer, the largest single-sport event in the world visited Atlanta for the first time. The World Cup graced North America with equal parts traffic and excitement throughout June and July. Spain won for the second time ever, defeating the reigning champion and three-time winner Argentina in the final match.
“The games I attended were Argentina vs. England, Uzbekistan vs. Congo, England vs. Congo and Spain vs. Saudi Arabia,” says Eli Kobylivker ’27. Atlanta hosted eight matches throughout the summer, including the semifinal match between Argentina and England.
The tournament also brought about connections with fans, businesses and musicians from around the globe. According to Kobylivker, “I met a bunch of people from other countries, a bunch of English and Argentine guys and even Spain. The vibe was unreal. Everybody was just happy to be enjoying soccer—or football—and not doing work.”
Although soccer does not typically arise when thinking of America’s favorite pastimes, its popularity has recently expanded across the nation: according to surveys from The Economist and Gallup, soccer is now the third most popular sport in the United States. Following the World Cup, fans expressed hopes that the excitement and sense of community it brought to Atlanta are here to stay. “[The 2026 World Cup] will and has had a huge impact on soccer in the United States,” says Kobylivker.
