ATLANTA — Legions of fans gathered at Piedmont Park on Sunday for “A Celebration of Soccer & Sound,” a free, daylong festival featuring a live screening of the World Cup Final, live music, local vendors and family activities.
“You can definitely feel the energy around Piedmont and Park Tavern,” Luke Strickland said.
That energy has been building for weeks.
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the championship match kicking off at 3 p.m., and a performance by Atlanta native Ludacris.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Channel 2’s Brittany Kleinpeter arrived at Piedmont Park around 8:30 a.m. Sunday and saw a noticeable law enforcement presence throughout the area, including Atlanta Police SWAT vehicles, K-9 units and patrol officers stationed around the park.
City leaders have said additional officers would be reassigned to increase security in and around Piedmont Park. Road closures and parking restrictions are also in place to help manage the expected crowds.
RELATED STORIES:
- Neighbors glad there will be more police at Piedmont Park for World Cup finals
- The World Cup final is here, with Argentina taking on Spain in soccer’s showdown
- Argentina vs. England semifinal marks end of Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup hosting
The event is designed to cap off Atlanta’s role as a host city during the FIFA World Cup with live entertainment, international food vendors, local merchants, interactive activities and a Kids Zone. Fans were able to watch the World Cup Final from three large viewing screens located throughout the park.
Local vendor Jeff Mills said he’s excited to be part of the celebration.
“It celebrates sound and soccer by the FIFA Cup being here. I think it’s a great look for the city and an opportunity for vendors like myself to showcase their products,” said Mills.
Organizers are encouraging visitors to leave their cars at home because parking around Piedmont Park will be extremely limited. MARTA, rideshare services, walking, and biking are recommended as the easiest ways to get to the festival. Guests are also encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, sunscreen, and refillable water bottles. Water stations, misting areas and first aid stations will be available throughout the park due to the July heat. All bags are subject to inspection.
For fans like Strickland, the event is about more than just watching a soccer match.
“The World Cup is once every four years so I’m glad that there are a lot of people in the city that really look forward to this sporting event,” he said.
Admission to the event was free, and no tickets or RSVP were required.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
