Zoo Cup 2026 – These are the matches to watch!

All eyes are on the World Cup in Atlanta, but the matches of Zoo Cup 2026 are the games to watch. Beginning on Monday, June 15, 2026, 16 Zoo Atlanta animal species will match up to test their skills with soccer balls until only one Champion remains – and fans near and far get to decide the outcome.

Video match-ups and updates will run on Zoo Atlanta Facebook and Instagram on Mondays and Thursdays through mid-July. Fans are encouraged to vote for each match-up’s winner, who will advance to the next round in a bracket-style system. Hand, beak, and trunk balls are all legal in Zoo Cup.

Visit zooatlanta.org/zoocup to vote and to learn more.

For all things World Cup at Zoo Atlanta, including travel tips and animal and program information, visit the Zoo’s World Cup Resources Page.

Zoo Atlanta is the ideal family destination for exploring the wonders of wildlife from around the world and connecting with conservation, before and during the World Cup matches in Atlanta. Plan an itinerary at zooatlanta.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:         

Rachel Davis, Director of Communications
404.624.2812
rdavis@zooatlanta.org

Gavin Johnson, Public Relations Manager  
404.624.5980
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org

About Zoo Atlanta
A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to hundreds of animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include a transformed African Savanna featuring expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostrich, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; one of North America’s largest populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include a newly updated African lion complex, opened in April 2025, and the state-of-the-art Rollins Animal Health Center, completed in 2024. In April 2026, Zoo Atlanta announced that through a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation, initiated between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, two new giant pandas will be traveling to Atlanta. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.