Waffle House to MARTA, soccer fans see Georgia unvarnished
Policymakers were thrilled when a World Cup Committee chose Atlanta to host eight soccer matches. Being a host venue would put Atlanta back on the world stage, generate revenue and allow Georgians to showcase our amenities, like Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
As the matches approached, the refrain among local leaders has largely been the same: Georgia will be or is ready for prime time. But that only seems partially true. Sure, we boast a world class sports arena, the world’s busiest airport and myriad hotels – all of which are prepared for the events and influx of travelers.
Wholesome viral social media posts likewise show that the South’s natural appeal is winning over foreign soccer fans. However, Atlanta’s Achilles’ heel predictably seems related to transportation, especially crime on MARTA, which has left officials demanding answers. More on that in a moment.
If you are part of the throngs of X users, then you may have come across @FreddyLA7 who apparently is a German soccer fan visiting the South. His viral posts show that without much effort, Southern charm is endearing foreigners to Georgia and the rest of the South.
His X account has been chronicling his trek through the Southeast as he experiences what we have to offer, including restaurants and gas stations, quirky cities and locals’ kindness. “I love Americans. We were about to walk an hour to the stadium in the rain to save on an Uber, and the receptionist at the hotel we were parked in front of decided to drive us there,” he tweeted.
We call that Southern hospitality, and his glowing reviews didn’t end there. “Just had our first Waffle House experience at 1am,” he said. “Great food, great prices, and friendly staff. 10/10, we will be coming back.”
On a drive through Georgia, he came across the faux Bavarian city of Helen and remarked, “We found a German village in the mountains of North Georgia lol I feel right at home.” @FreddyLA7 also seemed impressed with Buc-ee’s, Walmart, Chili’s and so forth. At this point, we should make him an honorary southerner, but it wasn’t all good news.
He decided to give MARTA a try – with a less than positive experience. “[Not going to lie] riding the metro in Atlanta is a bit scary,” he remarked. “If any of you guys are going to a game there, I’d probably recommend getting an Uber instead. It’s like a [Grand Theft Auto] lobby, one person next to us taking off his shirt and declaring war on Donald Trump while another person is moonwalking across the platform.”
Recent events on MARTA have also captured the attention of lawmakers. “Within the last week there have been two violent stabbings and a shooting [on the MARTA system]. One of them being fatal resulting in the death of a 66-year-old grandmother, Margaret Swan. These events have continued to raise our concerns regarding security measures throughout the transit system,” Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte and House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration said in a June 7 letter to MARTA’s interim general manager and CEO.
“As Atlanta prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup these concerns take on even greater significance,” the letter continued. “MARTA will play a central role in transporting residents and visitors to venues, hotels, and events associated with the tournament.” The majority leaders then requested information on how MARTA will safeguard employees and customers.
MARTA’s leadership evidently feels as though they have a plan. “MARTA has rolled out a World Cup operations plan that adds more officers, longer shifts, and outside support to handle the expected surge in riders and visitors. MARTA will use six-day workweeks with 12-hour shifts for officers, especially on match days and during other large World Cup events. MARTA will also deploy transit police officers from Denver to Atlanta for the tournament,” 11 Alive News reported.
It is not clear whether this will be enough or not. Gov. Brian Kemp has offered additional state resources to Atlanta, and explained all Atlanta needs to do is ask for help and the state will provide it. While Georgia has clearly proven itself a gem to World Cup fans, no venue is perfect, and MARTA risks being a blemish on visitors’ Atlanta experience. With the international spotlight on Atlanta, the pressure is on officials to ensure a safe and welcoming environment.