MARTA and Soccer in the Streets will host a watch party at West End Station to kick off the Copa América international men’s soccer tournament.
Other event co-hosts include Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier, Atlanta Influences Everything and Coca-Cola.
“At Soccer in the Streets, we are incredibly excited about the 2024 COPA América and the 2026 World Cup,” said Soccer in the Streets Executive Director Elijah Miranda. “Our intention is to do everything we can to make these experiences accessible to the communities we serve. This watch party, in collaboration with MARTA and our other partners, is an example of that effort. We want to bring Atlanta to the World Cup as the World Cup comes to Atlanta.”
Details
The Copa América tournament begins on Thursday, June 20 with a match between Argentina and Canada held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The match will feature Lionel Messi, soccer superstar and current MLS player for Inter Miami.
The watch party will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at MARTA’s West End station. The match begins at 8 p.m. The party is a free, family-friendly community event with a jumbo screen for the match, food trucks, music and games.
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“We’re excited to come together to watch some of the best soccer players in the world compete,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “Together with our partner Soccer in the Streets, we plan to host more events like this, especially with Atlanta hosting eight matches during World Cup 2026.”
Soccer has become a big part of the MARTA system since the launch of StationSoccer in 2016, when they and Soccer in the Streets established a soccer pitch at Five Points Station, the first in the world built inside a transit station. The successful program has since expanded to West End (2018), East Point (2019), Lindbergh Center (2020), Kensington (2022), and East Lake (2023), and will eventually form a ten-station league that is easily accessible by transit. MARTA also recently announced a brand partnership with Atlanta United to enhance the gameday experience for soccer fans and visitors.
