Welcome back to Kick It, the AJC’s newsletter for all things World Cup. Today we’ll be exploring a bold question: Is Atlanta the soccer capital of America?
Let’s kick it off.
INVESTIGATING ATLANTA’S CLAIM TO THE TITLE
Atlanta is trying very, very hard to cement itself as the country’s soccer epicenter. Let’s look at the creds.
💰 The investments
New national training center: Today, U.S. Soccer opened a $200 million National Training Center and headquarters in Fayetteville, south of Atlanta, calling it “the home for soccer in America.”
U.S. Soccer buy-in: Before the opening, U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson led an event with the World Affairs Council of Atlanta called “The Making of America’s Soccer Capital.”
The Monstrous Benz: Atlanta sports king Arthur Blank has been bigging up Mercedes-Benz Stadium (known during the World Cup as Atlanta Stadium) as a premier sports destination, having already hosted a Super Bowl, Club World Cup games and sell-out Atlanta United games. Frankly, Art Blank is his own reason. If he says it, he’s gonna make it happen.
👑 The teams and culture
We’ve tasted greatness: Atlanta United may not be great right now, but we still have that MLS Championship title from 2017.
We’re new, but loud: True, the roots aren’t as deep as other cities. ATL UTD was a 2014 MLS expansion team, so the soccer culture isn’t as embedded. Or is it?
We SHOW UP: This is a big one. Atlanta United regularly nabs the highest attendance record in the MLS, and has held that title for eight of the last nine years.
We finally got the gals: Atlanta is getting a National Women’s Soccer League franchise, beginning in 2028.
And, of course, we’re hosting eight World Cup matches this year.
A LOOK AT OTHER CONTENDERS
Now, the title of “Soccer Capital of America” is pretty subjective, and we won’t let petty parochialism keep us from looking at other possibilities.
🛡️ Kansas City: The Midwestern mecca may be a fraction of Atlanta’s size, but they’re making a lot of noise in the soccer space.
- They got the name: Sporting KC, their MLS team, has even trademarked the term “The Soccer Capital of America.” So I probably owe them money now.
- They’re aggressive: This has also started some surprisingly ugly beef with Atlanta, whose leaders are forced to use terms like “epicenter” to describe our soccer reputation.
- They scored soccer royalty: Kansas City is more central to the various World Cup host cities, so it landed agreements to serve as the home base for four national teams: Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria. Atlanta will serve as home base to Uzbekistan, and they are just as worthy of love. We will protect them with our lives.
READ MORE: Atlanta, Kansas City leaders trade insults over soccer capital title
🏛️ Washington, D.C.: Well, they’re already a capital. Since D.C. United was an inaugural franchise, founded in 1994, they have a seasoned soccer culture.
🌊 Seattle, Miami: Both cities have deeply ingrained soccer culture and popular MLS teams. Inter Miami CF also has soccer legend Lionel Messi. His gravitational pull alone gives Miami serious heft.
HALFTIME QUIZ!
Which country has won the most World Cup titles? Answer in Match Notes.
WORLD CUP ROSTER WORRIES
Some of the world’s star players may miss World Cup action because of various ouchies, boo-boos and genuinely distressing injuries. Here’s the latest:
- France: Superstar Kylian Mbappé is out of current play with a hamstring injury, but so far that isn’t expected to affect his World Cup play
- France: Hugo Ekitike is definitely out due to an Achilles injury.
- Spain: Teen star Lamine Yamal is out the rest of the season with a leg muscle injury, but is expected to play in the World cup
- Spain: Midfielder Rodri has been dealing with a groin injury and ACL damage, so his fate remains to be seen.
- Brazil: Stars Rodrygo and Éder Militão are definitely out.
⚽ READ MORE: Players definitely out of the World Cup, and those up in the air
A NEW BATCH OF TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW
As in, right now! FIFA announced the drop yesterday. Go go go!
- Oh wait, are they all really expensive? Soccer fans around the world have called FIFA out for a lack of affordable tickets.
- As of a few days ago, ESPN reported the cheapest tickets to U.S. games were going for $380, but they quickly rocket into the thousands depending on the team and stage.
- Even President Donald Trump says the prices are ridiculous, and that he “wouldn’t pay it.”
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino is unbothered. He said U.S. tickets are priced at “market rates.” In other words, yes they are expensive but so is everything.
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
🔥 Start planning for the heat now. Atlanta Stadium is enclosed and air conditioned, but don’t forget you’ll still have to deal with Southern summers outside. You’ll probably be doing a lot of walking, too. Hydration! Cooling! Sunscreen! Make a list.
🌭 Atlanta Stadium will keep fan-friendly prices during World Cup matches, Arthur Blank told WSB. If you’re not familiar, prepare to be delighted by the stadium’s concessions: $2 hot dogs. $2 popcorn. $3 nachos. They’re really good, too!
MATCH NOTES
Quiz answer: Brazil has won five World Cup titles, the most of any country. Germany and Italy have each won four, and France has three. The U.S. has zero. For now.
Next time: We’ll be coming to you again at the end of May. Since we’re getting closer to the first matches, we’ll drill down on your food, drink and entertainment options around the stadium, as well as how far everything is from everything else.
Good game, everyone! Take care of your ACLs.
Thanks for reading to the very bottom of Kick It! Questions, comments, ideas? Drop us a line.
Until next time.
About the Author
AJ Willingham is an National Emmy, NABJ and Webby award-winning journalist who loves talking culture, religion, sports, social justice, infrastructure and the arts. She lives in beautiful Smyrna-Mableton and went to Syracuse University.
