Georgia Tech Awaits the World Cup

The streets have been paved. The grass has been mowed. Projects across the city have rushed to completion in anticipation of Atlanta hosting eight World Cup matches in June and July. Georgia Tech’s campus will be join in the excitement, and the campus community is ready. 

“I’m excited for people from all over the world to experience how much Atlanta has embraced soccer,” said Alex Duncan, senior director of the Online Master of Science in Computer Science program. 

Duncan, originally from Plano, Texas, began following the World Cup in 1998. He traveled to Berlin for the 2006 tournament and has enjoyed seeing the world’s game come closer to home with the addition of Atlanta United, U.S. Soccer’s training headquarters, and the upcoming launch of a women’s professional team in the city. 

“Even if you don’t go to any games, the atmosphere and energy are palpable during the tournament, and it’s one of those rare events that unites people all over the world,” he said. “To have all of this happening effectively in my backyard is a dream come true.” 

For many students, the World Cup arriving in Atlanta represents more than a sporting event. It is a chance to connect with pieces of their identity or homes outside of Atlanta, or even outside of the United States. 

Sindhu Belki, an aerospace engineering student from Doha, Qatar, was in the U.S. when the World Cup was hosted in her home country. Now, she finds herself in the right place at the right time. 

“The excitement of entering a stadium decked in the colors and gear of your favorite team, joining hundreds of people supporting some of your favorite players, seeing little kids imitate Messi or Ronaldo, watching the players walk onto the pitch amid thunderous applause, the nail-biting anticipation with every pass of the ball, and the sheer joy of clinching the winning goal in a penalty shootout — what can be more thrilling and adventurous?” she said. 

Irene Jacob, a city and regional planning student from Maryland, is also thrilled to be living in a host city. She has followed the World Cup since 2014. 

“What makes the World Cup especially unique is the atmosphere around it and how it brings people together from all over the world in a way that few other sporting events can,” she said. “2014-me would be so excited to know that 12 years later, the city I’d be living in during the summer would actually be hosting the World Cup.” 

Whether you’re a diehard soccer fan or simply interested in experiencing the spectacle, there will be plenty of activities on and around campus to enjoy. Georgia Tech will host Club and Country Colors Day on June 10, and Georgia Tech and Georgia State University are teaming up for a watch party at Georgia State’s Convocation Center on July 1 – register for a free ticket.

See more campus events at gatech.edu/world-cup-2026.