Published: May 7th, 2026 As Atlanta prepares to take center stage for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta convened a fireside chat with JT Batson, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation, to examine what that moment represents—for the city, for American soccer, and for the global future of the sport. Council President Rickey Bevington led a wide‑ranging conversation that framed the World Cup not as a standalone event, but as part