PHOTOS: World Cup fans descend on Atlanta for first local match

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PHOTOS: World Cup fans descend on Atlanta for first local match

Spain vs. Cape Verde draws soccer fans early to downtown Atlanta for the first World Cup games played at Atlanta Stadium on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Cape Verde fans cheer at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Spain fans take cover from the heat at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park during the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Spain fans cheer at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Cape Verde fan Olivia Cruz watches the match at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park during the Spain and Cape Verde match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Adrian Gonzales, 11, takes a picture with Falcon’s mascot Freddie Falcon at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Cape Verde fans cheer at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Spain fans point at the screen at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Fans wearing Atlanta United jerseys attend FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans watch the screen at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park during the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Police officers walk through FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Mac Wood (center), 10, races for the ball at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Inside the SEC District MARTA station as fans attend the first FIFA match held in Atlanta on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

A MARTA Police officer and her k9 patrol the SEC District MARTA station as fans attend the first FIFA match held in Atlanta on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

A MARTA Ambassador helps a man and woman Inside the SEC District MARTA station as fans attend the first FIFA match held in Atlanta on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

People wait in line for an escalator inside the SEC District MARTA station as fans attend the first FIFA match held in Atlanta on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Spain fans walk near Centennial Olympic Park before the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans head toward Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans walk past The CTR ATL on their way to Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans gather near Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans near Centennial Olympic Park head toward Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans head toward Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans near Centennial Olympic Park head toward Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Soccer fans walk toward Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Fans of Spain snacking before the Spain vs. Cape Verde Group H match at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Soccer fans walk past a street food vendor on their way to Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Cape Verde fans cheer at FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park before the Spain and Cape Verde match at the the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. It’s the first of eight World Cup matches to take place in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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