FIFA World Cup Bid Evaluation team tours Atlanta

ATLANTA - FIFA's Bid Evaluation Task Force visited Atlanta Wednesday to tour the city's soccer facilities. Atlanta is listed as a potential World Cup host city for the 2026 tournament by the United 2026 bid committee which is a joint venture between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The tour group, which included representatives from FIFA, the United 2026 bid committee, the Atlanta Sports Council, Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, and Mercedes-Benz stadium visited Atlanta United's training ground in Marietta to start the day. Then headed downtown to visit the Georgia World Congress Center and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The GWCC is listed as a potential site for the International Broadcast Center for the tournament, while Mercedes-Benz Stadium is listed as a site for early round games, as well as one of the tournament's two semifinal matches.

FIFA will award the 2026 World Cup to either the group of the US, Canada, and Mexico or Morocco on June 13th. That is the day before the 2018 World Cup begins in Russia. FOX Sports has acquired the rights for the 2018 World Cup through the 2026 tournament. FOX 5 Atlanta will air 38 matches from the 2018 World Cup live.