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The official FIFA World Cup Fan Festival is taking place this summer at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. It offers all fans an opportunity to experience the World Cup tournament outside of stadium walls.
The Fan Festival is FREE to attend, but you must download a ticket for a specific date. (The details on ticketing are just below.)
The festival is currently scheduled for 18 days between June 11th and July 15th, and is promised to be an immersive experience. It’s hosted by the City of Atlanta and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA).
In addition to the free experiences, there’s the option to buy tickets for an upgraded experience (see below).
The festival will cover the entire footprint of Centennial Park.
It includes:
- Live broadcasts of tournament matches on giant LED screens
- Concerts, DJ sets, and global entertainment
- Interactive soccer-related experiences and games
- Diverse, international food and beverage vendors
- Murals, art, and graphics throughout the park
- Official merchandise for sale
According to a press release, there will be four distinct programming areas in the park:
- Main Stage will be the focal point of the FIFA Fan Festival™ featuring concerts and a 40-foot screen, which will showcase live matches and highlights from across the tournament (schedule below).
- The Playground will feature activations and games geared to younger fans.
- The Pitch will host a community stage, podcasts, and AR/VR-enhanced sound experiences.
- Georgia Street will showcase artists and food vendors from across the region.
How to get FREE tickets to the Fan Festival
You can register online for free general admission tickets for the dates listed below.
NOTE that having a ticket may not guarantee entry, if officials decide the park is at or over capacity.
(To guarantee entry on a specific date, you can purchase a GA+ ticket for $45 to $65, giving you access to an upfront viewing area with private restrooms and a bar.)
You can get up to six free passes per order.
After choosing your free general admission pass or paying for the GA+ ticket, you’ll receive an email with a link to access. Show your pass at the festival entrance for entry.
Fan Festival takes place on these 18 dates.
(The press release notes that more dates and/or additional programming may be scheduled.)
- Thursday, June 11 — noon to 6 p.m.
- Friday, June 12 — 2 p.m. to midnight
- Saturday, June 13 — 1 to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, June 14 — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Monday, June 15 — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 17 — noon to 10 p.m.
- Thursday, June 18 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday, June 19 — 1:30 to 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 20 — noon to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, June 21 — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m
- Wednesday, June 24 — 1 to 11 p.m.
- Friday, June 26 — 1 to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, June 27 — 2 p.m. to midnight
- Wednesday, July 1 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 7 — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, July 11 — 3 p.m. to midnight
- Tuesday, July 14 — 1 to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 15 — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Also, when you click on a specific date on the ticketing page, it will show you the hours for that day.
OR, you can go to the Fan Festival website and scroll down the page to the graphic that lists festival hours for each date.
The ticketing page notes that all dates and times are subject to change.
Reserve tickets here
Getting there
In a nutshell — you need to take MARTA.
Traffic will be a nightmare and downtown parking will be nonexistent.
Centennial Park is an easy 5-10 minute walk from either:
• the GWCC/CNN Station on the Blue/Green line
• the Peachtree Center Station on the Red/ Gold line
In case you don’t know, MARTA has transitioned to the Better Breeze fare system, in anticipation of heavy use during the FIFA World Cup games.
See our guide to using Better Breeze
More local watch parties & fan zones
Saturday, June 13th at Ben Hill Rec Center (SW Atlanta)
Noon to 5 p.m.
FREE admission
Giant screen, music, food vendors, kid zone
More info
Saturday, July 4th at Gordon-White Park (West End)
Noon to 5 p.m.
FREE admission
Giant screen, music, food vendors, kid zone
More info
Saturday, July 11th at Old Fourth Ward Park
Noon to 5 p.m.
FREE admission
Giant screen, music, food vendors, kid zone
More info
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