Atlanta skyline at night - 1

Mercedes-Benz Stadium lights up Atlanta's skyline at dusk.

The wait is officially over. Atlanta takes center stage today on the global sports map as Spain faces off against Cabo Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, kicking off an action-packed slate of eight FIFA World Cup matches in the city. With roughly 300,000 unique spectators—including 225,000 out-of-state visitors—converging on the city over the next few weeks, Atlanta's streets, hotels, and fan zones are already pulsing with international energy.

According to William Pate, president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the tournament is projected to generate more than $500 million in economic activity across Georgia.

Originally published on theroamreport.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.