World Cup fans allowed to bring guns to Atlanta fanzone

World Cup fans are allowed to bring guns into Atlanta's official FIFA Fan Fest, where an England-Argentina watch party takes place, according to a little-known Georgia state law. This has surprised many visiting supporters. As a major host city for the 2026 tournament, Atlanta will organize the highly anticipated semi-final match today. It has been revealed that attendees at the Downtown Atlanta fan zone have been able to bring their handguns throughout the tournament. As reported by 11A Live, the state law mandates that events on public property, even those hosted by private entities like FIFA, must permit visitors to exercise their right to carry firearms.

The Georgia World Congress Center, the organizer of the event at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, stated, "All security measures implemented for the FIFA Fan Festival were developed and carried out in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for all guests while ensuring our operations comply with Georgia law."

The fan fest has been home to thousands of supporters during the tournament, and the lesser-known law has allowed fans to bring their guns onto the premises. John Monroe, an attorney for the gun rights group GA2A, explained that in Georgia, if organizers wish to ban guns, they must do so on private property. He emphasized, "Public property is off the table."

While the number of guns allowed on site is unclear, officers have noted that although they encourage fans to store their firearms in their cars, some have decided to carry them inside the venue. The atmosphere within the fan zone has been lively, with fans from various nations gathering to watch and celebrate during the tournament.

Many supporters of England and Argentina are expected to watch the match on the fan fest's big screen, as they may be unable to secure seats within the stadium. Argentina fans have already gathered in downtown Atlanta in anticipation of the semi-final against England. Notably, a Lionel Messi flag was spotted among the crowd.

FIFA's official website for the fan fest mentions that fans can carry transparent bags through security, but does not reference firearms. The match has been labeled the most high-risk of the tournament, due to the historical political rivalry between the two nations. According to The Times, a meeting of FIFA officials, Atlanta police, and the FBI has rated this match highest for any occurring during the tournament. To mitigate potential unrest, additional security measures have been put in place, including separate fan entrances to the stadium and designated England and Argentina bars in the area.