When it comes to major infrastructural changes implemented under a tight 2026 FIFA World Cup deadline, the City of Decatur has officially entered the game.
The DeKalb County city recently took down the gates on an $8.5 million revamp of Historic Decatur Square, marking the first major updates since the 1980s.
The project, which kicked off construction in spring 2025, is the initial phase of Decatur's Town Center Plan 2.0. It expanded the size of the square and its greenspaces, replacing the large bandstand near MARTA's Swanton Way entrance with a larger, modernized performing arts stage.
Other additions include a standalone building with permanent public restrooms, an open car-free plaza, a new children's play area partially built into a hill, and larger open spaces.
Completion comes in time for what's expected to be one of metro Atlanta's largest World Cup event hubs. Decatur WatchFest '26 will air more than 60 World Cup matches on three large viewing screens, alongside 34 free concerts from regional and national music artists. No tickets are required for matches.