The FIFA 2026 World Cup is just weeks away, and as teams begin to set up camp across North America ahead of the first matches, host cities are putting the final touches on their preparations.

Eight tournament matches will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, referred to as “Atlanta Stadium” for the duration of the tournament. The venue sits in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, and fans will be able to watch the world’s best soccer players from the group stage all the way to the semifinal.

In a recent study from Action Network, Atlanta was ranked fifth overall for World Cup fan experience during this year’s tournament, citing the city’s walkability around the stadium and time from the airport to the venue. It ranked second among United States host cities, just behind Seattle.

But from road infrastructure to public transportation to hotels, it looks like Atlanta may not quite be ready for the soccer rush to begin in June. Here’s how parts of the city have prepared for the World Cup.

FBI will back up Atlanta Police, partner agencies during tournament

During a press conference on May 28, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlanta Office outlined their preparations for the tournament, and where their expertise could be needed.

Special Agents said the FBI SWAT teams would “maintain a high level of visibility” throughout the tournament, and fans should not be alarmed to see them around the stadium and at fan events as a precautionary measure.

Agents said there are “no known threats” to the tournament in Atlanta, but fans are encouraged to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. The FBI also noted that human trafficking can take place during large events, like the World Cup, and the agency will have task forces working during the tournament period and throughout the summer.

FBI agents from across the state have been pulled into Atlanta to support the World Cup operations, and other agents could be requested throughout the southeast if an attack or threat were to occur, the Special Agents said.

Drones will also be prohibited from the area around the stadium and fan events, agents said. The “no drone zone” means unauthorized drones could be brought down.

MARTA prices will remain low, but safety benchmarks not yet met

The MARTA train and bus system, Atlanta’s public transportation, will not raise prices for their normal passes during the World Cup. The decision was made as public transportation officials in other states faced backlash for their exorbitant train fees during the period of the tournament.

A Breeze pass, which can be purchased online ahead of match day, will cost $2.50 one way to Mercedes-Benz, no different than any other day in Atlanta.

There are multiple MARTA stations near the stadium, including the newly-named Sports, Entertainment, and Convention District Station just steps away from Mercedes-Benz, the Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Centennial Yards, the College Football Hall of Fame, the CNN Center, Centennial Park, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.

Spectators hoping to use MARTA for a match day can use a physical bank card, a mobile wallet, a virtual Breeze card, a physical Breeze card or cash to pay for their ride at any MARTA station. Many fans, both local and from out-of-town, are expected to rely on the MARTA system for their primary transportation in and around the stadium.

However, some MARTA upgrades that were intended to be complete by the World Cup may come up short, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported earlier this week.

As of May 26, the new trains developed by a Swiss manufacturer had not met the full suite of safety checks to be operational within 30 days, after the World Cup begins in Atlanta, the outlet reported. Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said in an interview that he believes MARTA will still be able to meet the June 4 safety deadline, but he was willing to delay signing off on the new trains if they were not deemed 100% safe for passengers. More safety screenings took place this week.

Stadler, the manufacturer, said in a statement to the AJC the company was “confident about meeting the service start goal in line with the testing and training protocols,” and that so far “the trains are performing as expected.”

ATLANTA – An Atlanta federal district court judge remains on the bench after an investigation revealed she had an extramarital affair and sex in her chambers, initially lying to investigators before admitting to the actions.

Atlanta federal judge reprimanded

What we know:

TMZ reports that the investigation revealed that the judge engaged in an extramarital sexual relationship with members of the Atlanta Police Department. 

The Associated Press reports that two had sex in the judge’s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff. Law clerks reported the activity after overhearing the encounters on multiple occasions.

Security footage and logs confirmed that the officer frequently visited the judge’s chambers in uniform around lunchtime. The judge initially called the allegations “outrageous” and denied them. She later recanted and admitted to the relationship.

The committee issued a private reprimand, keeping her name secret because she demonstrated a propensity for rehabilitation and had an otherwise exemplary service record. The judge agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, decline the position of chief judge of the district, and refrain from serving on any Judicial Conference committee. Her identity was later unmasked in a report by Bloomberg.

What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact dates when the misconduct occurred inside the Atlanta federal building. 

The police department has not disclosed whether the officer faces internal disciplinary action or if his employment status has changed following the investigation. 

Big picture view:

Federal judges receive lifetime appointments under the U.S. Constitution and can only be removed from office through impeachment by Congress. The judicial system relies on internal circuits to review misconduct complaints through committees. These bodies can issue private or public reprimands, censure judges, or temporarily withhold new cases, but they lack the legal authority to strip a judge of their title.

Image credit:
Vahn Lackey (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam)

The 2026 NCAA baseball tournament is set to get underway on Friday, May 29, with teams opening regional play across the nation. 

To get ready, Baseball America presents the ultimate tournament guide with preview breakdowns of all 64 teams. Check out the full list of regional previews here.

No. 1 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech is the most dangerous offensive team in the country because there is no obvious place to breathe. The Yellow Jackets lead the nation in scoring, average, on-base percentage, slugging and overall offensive production, and they pair that thump with enough swing-decision discipline to make every inning feel pressurized. A 10-run lead does not feel safe against this group because Georgia Tech can build rallies patiently, then end them violently.

The lineup has as much draft gravity as any team in the field this year. Vahn Lackey is the best catcher in the class and might be the best position player available, Drew Burress gives Georgia Tech another first-round ba, and Jarren Advincula is one of the toughest pure contact hitters in the country—and that accounts for just a third of a star-studded group. That trio, though, gives the Yellow Jackets significant force. The lineup’s depth is what makes it exhausting.

Georgia Tech’s pitching is not the headliner, but it is more than passable for this roster. Georgia Tech misses bats at a strong clip, limits damage well enough and keeps opponents from turning every game into a race. It does not need a dominant staff to win this regional. It needs enough strikes, enough swing-and-miss and enough runway for the best offense in America to take over.

No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma’s regional case is thinner than its seed line suggests. The Sooners have one bankable separator: a pitching staff that can miss bats at a high enough rate to survive against quality lineups. That gives them some theoretical upset equity, but it comes with a major caveat. Oklahoma walks too many hitters, allows too much traffic and has not consistently prevented runs, which is a brutal combination in a regional built around Georgia Tech’s offense.

The Sooners also do not have the kind of lineup that can comfortably chase crooked numbers if the pitching staff slips. They draw some walks and have individual bats capable of doing damage, but overall this is a middle-of-the-pack offense in the field, not one built to overwhelm mistakes.

Oklahoma can win games if its arms command the zone and turn strikeouts into clean innings. Winning the regional, though, likely requires its best pitching weekend and most explosive offensive stretch of the season to happen at the same time.

No. 3 The Citadel

The Citadel’s path is narrow because the majority of its run prevention is built on pitching to contact, a difficult way to survive in a regional with Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs do a decent job keeping games manageable, but they do not miss many bats, which means too many innings will depend on defense, sequencing and batted-ball luck.

For a light offense that does not walk much or hit for much power, that leaves very little margin. Lefty Will Holmes and two-way righty Michael Gipson account for much of The Citadel’s swing-and-miss, so any real run probably has to flow through them.

No. 4 Illinois-Chicago

UIC is a true longshot four-seed in a regional that does not offer many soft landings. The Flames have some power and avoid excessive free passes on the mound, but the larger profile is difficult to square with a realistic path forward. They do not score enough, do not prevent runs at a high enough level and are staring at a Georgia Tech offense that punishes ordinary pitching quickly. One win would be a major achievement.