As Atlanta prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the City of Atlanta is taking a step to ensure the global spotlight reflects the city’s deepest values.
City leaders have publicly launched the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, a comprehensive framework designed to protect workers, support vulnerable communities, and ensure the tournament delivers lasting benefits for Atlanta residents.
Led by the Mayor’s Office of One Atlanta and formally adopted by the Atlanta City Council through Resolution 26-R-3106, the plan outlines how Atlanta will prioritize fairness, inclusion, and accountability before, during, and after the World Cup.
“Atlanta has a legacy of leading the conscience of the nation for civil and human rights,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “The ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan reflects the city’s values and decades of the unforgotten voices of the greatest civil rights leaders in history who called Atlanta home.”
A Global Event Grounded in Community
The plan is guided by a simple but powerful principle: the World Cup should happen with Atlanta—not to Atlanta.
To build the framework, city leaders spent months gathering feedback from residents, community organizations, and advocacy groups.
The process included:
- 75+ hours of community engagement
- Participation from more than 25 community organizations
- Collaboration across multiple City of Atlanta departments and offices
Participants included labor leaders, disability advocates, faith organizations, youth groups, immigrant-serving nonprofits, anti-trafficking coalitions, and residents from across the city.
“This Action Plan was built through partnership,” said Chief Impact Officer Candace Stanciel, who led the initiative. “Their voices shaped every section of this document, and their continued partnership will be essential to its success.”
Four Pillars Guiding the Plan
The ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan addresses a wide range of issues associated with hosting a major international event. The framework is organized around four core pillars:
Inclusion and Safeguarding
The city will focus on protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring all residents and visitors feel safe and welcome.
Key priorities include:
- Preventing human trafficking
- Protecting children and youth
- Supporting residents experiencing homelessness
- Ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities
- Expanding language access services
- Protecting digital privacy and data rights
- Upholding the right to peaceful assembly
Workers’ Rights
The city will work to ensure safe and fair working conditions tied to World Cup activities.
This includes:
- Fair wages and safe workplaces
- Freedom of association
- Wage theft prevention
- Workforce development opportunities
- Small business readiness support
Atlanta will set $17.50 per hour as the minimum wage baseline for FIFA-related employment coordinated by the City.
Access to Remedy
The plan also focuses on ensuring people can report concerns or discrimination easily.
Efforts include:
- A unified grievance reporting portal in partnership with FIFA
- Strengthening the Atlanta Human Relations Commission as the city’s primary anti-discrimination resource
- Ensuring complaint systems are accessible in multiple languages
Accountability and Monitoring
The city will track progress and share updates publicly.
Commitments include:
- Quarterly public progress reports
- Measurable targets for every initiative
- A comprehensive Human Rights Impact Report within six months after the tournament concludes
Eight Legacy Initiatives for Atlanta
Beyond the tournament itself, the ATL26 plan outlines eight Legacy Impact Initiatives designed to create long-term benefits for Atlanta residents.
These include:
Human Rights Ecosystem Mapping
Connecting at least 15 partner organizations through coordinated meetings and creating a public directory of human rights resources.
Youth Advancement and Support
Providing leadership and development opportunities for 200+ young people.
Careers in Sports Training
Hosting career exposure events that introduce residents to opportunities in the sports and events industries.
Major Sporting Event Accessibility Readiness
Developing a citywide Accessibility Readiness Kit to improve access for people with disabilities at large events.
Supportive Housing Assistance
Working toward 500 permanent supportive housing units and 2,000 households rehoused between 2025 and 2026.
Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention
Training 1,000+ individuals through community and business awareness programs.
Pride Programming
Hosting FIFA-connected events that support and celebrate Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community.
Advancing Local Expertise and Remedy
Expanding training and outreach through the Atlanta Human Relations Commission to strengthen anti-discrimination protections.
A Model for Future Host Cities
City leaders say the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan represents Atlanta’s commitment to ensuring that global events bring lasting value to the communities that host them.
Atlanta will welcome fans, teams, and visitors from around the world in 2026—but officials say the city’s focus remains on the people who call Atlanta home.
By embedding human rights protections into planning and operations, the city hopes to set a new standard for how major international events can support communities while celebrating the power of sport.
View the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan and Executive Summary online.
