Atlanta United welcomes Miami to MLS

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 22:  Fans watch the match between the Atlanta United and the Toronto FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Credit: Kevin C. Cox

Credit: Kevin C. Cox

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 22: Fans watch the match between the Atlanta United and the Toronto FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Major League Soccer granted Miami an expansion franchise Monday, a franchise owned in part by global-soccer icon David Beckham.

Atlanta United, a former expansion franchise which played its inaugural season in 2017, extended a friendly welcome to the newest franchise in MLS.

Atlanta United’s first season ended with a shootout-loss in the quarterfinals of the MLS playoffs. The team finished the regular season 15-9-10 and placed fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Miami will not begin play until the 2020 season.