MARTA CEO says Atlanta transit ready for FIFA World Cup: ‘Safe, clean, reliable service’

Atlanta transit ready for FIFA World Cup: MARTA CEO

With just under 160 days until the first FIFA World Cup match kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta is gearing up to host eight matches from mid-June through mid-July, drawing fans from around the globe.

ATLANTA - With just under 160 days until the first FIFA World Cup match kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta is gearing up to host eight matches from mid-June through mid-July, drawing fans from around the globe.

FIFA World Cup preps in Atlanta

What we know:

As Atlanta prepares for the global spotlight, MARTA says the pressure is on to deliver.

With the full World Cup schedule released, MARTA has started to gauge the demand for transit this summer. 

Some matchups are expected to drive heavy transit use, prompting the agency to provide more trains and more frequent service on game days. 

Jonathan Hunt, MARTA interim general manager and CEO, says ensuring fans have a positive experience is a top priority.

"Will MARTA be World Cup ready? And our resounding answer to that is ‘yes,’" Hunt said.

He said operational reliability and security will be critical during the event. 

MARTA CEO on World Cup: 'Safe, clean, reliable service'

What they're saying:

"We are focused on cleanliness. We're focused on delivering a safe, clean, reliable service to the region for World Cup. We've deployed a lot of resources, and we have a very large World Cup planning initiative," Hunt said.

On the safety front, Hunt noted that violent crime in the system has dropped 50% over the past six years, and overall crime fell 28% just last year. 

To maintain that trend, MARTA has hired additional police officers and says several national transit agencies will send officers to help during the World Cup.

"We have had incidents in the past, but we are a reflection of the communities that we serve. What I'm most proud about is the fact that our MPD, our MARTA HOPE, all of our staff have brought all of those numbers down," Hunt said.

MARTA outlines transit plans ahead of 2026 World Cup

MARTA’s interim CEO and general manager, Jonathan Hunt, appeared at the Georgia State Capitol to brief lawmakers on how the transit system is preparing for the influx of visitors expected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. He highlighted plans focused on security, system reliability, and passenger flow, along with investments in new rail cars and an upgraded payment system. MARTA leaders say the goal is to ensure smooth, safe, and efficient transportation for residents and global visitors during one of the city’s largest events.

MARTA also has plans to debut new train cars, launch an upgraded payment system, and open a new bus rapid transit line. The agency says these improvements will be completed before the World Cup. 

Hunt emphasized that while these upgrades will enhance the experience for soccer fans, they will also benefit the region long-term.

"We're not satisfied with a good transit system here in the state. So, we're going to go from good to great. And doing that, it's going to require a little short-term discomfort for some extremely long-term gain," Hunt said.

What's next:

MARTA hopes all of these efforts will also help increase ridership beyond the tournament.