Mercedes-Benz Stadium was constructed to give it at least three advantages in possibly hosting a World Cup.
Coincidentally during a tour of the $1.5 billion stadium Tuesday, the Joint Bid Committee representing the U.S., Mexico and Canada in its effort to land the 2026 World Cup, released the list of cities that could be host sites. Atlanta, with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, was included on that list.
The stadium includes seats in the corners for football that can be rolled back for soccer, which allows the field to surpass the minimum width of 70 yards required by FIFA. The field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be 75 yards wide by 115 yards long.
“It’s something that costs money, but the right thing for us to do for the ability to host soccer games,” Atlanta United President Darren Eales said Tuesday.
Second, Eales said that FIFA requires World Cup stadiums have a “kick room,” which is an area within the stadium in which players can get loose before taking the field. Mercedes-Benz has one of those rooms, complete with artificial turf, adjacent to Atlanta United’s locker room. There is space for a “kick room” near the visitor’s locker room.
“We have a jump start on a lot of stadiums that don’t have those things built in,” Eales said.
Lastly, FIFA prefers World Cup stadiums seat at least 60,000 for a World Cup final. Mercedes-Benz Stadium can reach 70,000 for soccer. The Georgia Dome had 71,250 seats.
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