ATLANTA — When soccer fans from around the globe gather in Atlanta this summer for the FIFA World Cup, Georgia State University's Panther Band will be among the performers helping set the tone for the city's big moment.
The ensemble has been selected to perform at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Centennial Olympic Park, sharing a lineup with some of Atlanta's most recognizable artists as the city plays host to one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet. For Interim Director of Athletic Bands Devin Reid, the invitation is a milestone — but not entirely a surprise.
"I am constantly amazed at the many accomplishments of the Panther Band," Reid said. "To be able to perform at the world's largest sporting event is such an honor, and I'm thrilled to be able to share with the global community the excellence and energy of the Panther Band."
The Panther Band was founded in 2010, and in just 16 seasons has built the kind of résumé that most ensembles spend decades chasing. The band marched in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade, performed at the 2014 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared in the Super Bowl LIII Pepsi Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In 2022, the ensemble traveled to Pasadena, Calif., for the Tournament of Roses Parade. Along the way, the band has appeared in feature films and television productions and earned repeated recognition from the College Band Directors National Association — most recently as a featured marching band for the 2026 Southern Division Conference Review.
"One thing that hasn't changed is the level of excellence from the band itself," Reid said. "We truly have a very special, talented and award-winning band."
That excellence has also made the Panther Band a fixture at major events closer to home. In recent years, the ensemble has performed for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, at a University System scholarship gala at Trilith Studios, for Georgia State's Future of Marketing Conference at the Georgia Aquarium and at a national leadership conference hosted by T-Mobile. The opportunities, Reid says, come with the territory.
"There are so many opportunities that the city provides," he said. "We are in the heart of a major metropolitan area and receive requests frequently for the band or a portion of the band to perform."
The FIFA Fan Festival™ will bring that same energy to an international audience. The entertainment lineup includes performers such as Killer Mike, Ludacris, Summer Walker, EarthGang and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — a slate that speaks to the breadth and depth of Atlanta's cultural identity.
For Reid, standing alongside those artists carries its own meaning.
"The Panther Band is known as 'The Sound of Downtown,'" he said. "I'm thrilled to be able to share our part of the culture of Atlanta with the global and local community alongside so many other talented artists."
The FIFA Fan Festival™ appearance also connects to Georgia State's broader Summer of Soccer initiative, a university-wide celebration featuring on-campus watch parties and community events throughout the tournament. As visitors descend on Atlanta from around the world, the Panther Band will once again do what it has done since its founding — represent Georgia State, represent the city and show what this band is made of.