“Soccer? In Atlanta?!” I remember being puzzled by the presumption that Atlanta sports fans would take to soccer. Atlanta has always been known for its robust fandom for college football and professional baseball. A few years earlier, we’d played host to the world for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, but I never imagined enough interest in soccer to support the world’s most popular sport.
But there were lots of things teenage me had yet to learn – among them, that Atlanta has more than a 100-year history of enthusiastically supporting competitive soccer. That’s evident today with fandom for our Major League Soccer team, Atlanta United FC, which routinely sells out stadiums. But that following started long before the Silverbacks, going back to Atlanta’s older clubs called the Atlanta Chiefs (in the NASL from 1967 to 1973) and the Atlanta Ruckus (1995-1996). In 1968, the Chiefs brought Atlanta its first national championship in any sport, and in its short tenure, the Ruckus went to the championship series (but ultimately lost to the Seattle Sounders).
Even at a recreational level, soccer is integral to the fabric of the A. The nonprofit organization Soccer in the Streets, at the core of Atlanta’s soccer culture, organizes youth leagues to introduce Atlanta kids to the sport. It also hosts adult pickup games every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. In 2016, Soccer in the Streets made history by creating the world’s first soccer field project inside a train station. From there, the initiative spread, and now Atlanta has mini soccer fields next to five of Atlanta’s train stops, giving kids the opportunity to ride the train to play another neighborhood’s team.
In 2025, Atlanta hosts the sports world again, but this time for the city’s first-ever FIFA Club World Cup matches. It’s the perfect time for Atlanta to hold the spotlight again. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, built in 2017, is arguably the best soccer stadium in the country. And love for the game continues to grow. Walk into any restaurant or neighborhood and you’re bound to see someone rocking Atlanta’s five stripes, or even supporting their favorite Premier League team.
Whether you’re coming to watch the Atlanta World Cup matches in 2026, the Club World Cup matches in 2025, or just soaking in some FIFA tournament excitement, there are plenty of places to get into the spirit. Here are a few places that put soccer front and center.
Atlanta regularly draws tourist crowds for its cultural diversity and thriving arts and food scene. While visitors often flock to must-see attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the iconic Centennial Olympic Park, those in town for World Cup games shouldn’t limit themselves to just the tried-and-true sights.
Photo: Lee Reese/Shutterstock
This 35-foot-tall metal soccer ball just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the largest sculpture of its kind in the US. The Telstar sculpture pays homage to the iconic Adidas Telstar ball used in the FIFA World Cup Finals in Mexico City in 1970. The mirror-like artwork has all the appeal of sculptures like Chicago’s The Bean, but fewer crowds (unless you’re seeing it on game day). Go at night to see the ball light up with internal lights.
Telestar sculpture: 1 AMB Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Photo: Atlanta United FC/ (Art by Fabian Williams)
Atlanta United partnered with several artists to paint murals across the city. The murals depict people emblematic of the “Spirit of 17,” or AU’s trailblazing spirit of continuously showing up for community. The mural in Atlanta’s Westview neighborhood, created by artist Fabian Williams, highlights Jay Carter and Oronike Odeleye, the founder and director of Atlanta’s One Music Fest. Fabian depicts both with an Atlanta halo that gives a nod to the city and to the soccer club.
There’s a driving tour available of all the murals on the United FC website, as well as nine other walking tours of various art collections throughout Atlanta, like the 1.5-mile tour of East Atlanta art or the three-mile tour through one of the largest sculpture parts in the southeastern US.
Photo: Vitalii Vitleo/Shutterstock
For the soccer enthusiast who enjoys the prestige of a vintage look, Rare and Retro Soccer in Little 5 Points is your best bet for finding rare and unique jerseys and other soccer memorabilia. Keep an eye out for everything from a recent Miami jersey from the GOAT timeself, Lionel Messi, or a twenty-year-old Swedish Ibrahimović jersey. This is your home to discuss the love of the game and all the pieces that help bring your best stories alive.
Rare and Retro Soccer Atlanta: 401 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Photo: Anton Vierietin/Shutterstock
What was once the home to an earlier version of Atlanta men’s soccer has now transformed into a space for adults to play recreational matches, watch the game, and grab a bite and beer at Willie B’s Bar and Grill. You can watch Apotheos FC (Atlanta’s semi-pro team) play at Silverbacks Park, or even catch a rugby or an ultimate frisbee game, depending on the night.
If you’re keen to get on the field in town, check out Sons of Pitches. It arranges pick-up soccer games throughout the city every week, with reasonable drop-in rates of $5-$20 per person. Make sure to sign up in advance so the organizers can make sure they have the correct number of players.
Silverbacks Park: 3200 Atlanta Silverbacks Way, Atlanta, GA 30340
Opening in Spring 2026 in Fayetteville, about 30 miles south of Atlanta, this new facility will serve as the home of US Soccer, making it the epicenter for growing the game across the country. The 200-acre facility will have more than a dozen soccer fields and will be the place for the country’s top soccer players to train. The full list of offerings for visitors has not been released yet, but this is a space to watch for any fan of the sport.
Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center: 910 Veterans Pkwy, Fayetteville, GA 30214
Atlanta has a lively soccer bar scene that mirrors the passion and diversity of its fans, and a global food scene that draws from international and southern influences. But while Southern cuisine and soul food are deeply rooted in the city’s history and daily life, it’s hardly the only choice. Here’s where to watch the Atlanta World Cup games and sample the city’s best flavors.
Brewhouse is one of the first true soccer bars to open in the Southeast and now, word’s gotten out about how epic this place is: the hugely popular Men in Blazers podcast named it America’s best soccer bar. Grab a traditional English breakfast while elbow-to-elbow with Premier League fans, or grab a bite and head to the massive patio, one of the largest in the area. Brewhouse Cafe is teeming with regulars but always has space for a new fan.
The Brewhouse Cafe: 401 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Pronounced f’doe, Fadó is a classic Irish pub that’s home to watch parties for both Atlanta United and Liverpool. Fadó also hosts fantasy Premier League contests, all while providing a classic pub atmosphere to catch all the games. Atlanta has two locations in Midtown and Buckhead, with each serving more American bar food than traditional Irish fare.
Fadó Irish Pub: 273 Buckhead Ave or 933 Peachtree St NE
This East Atlanta hangout is home to one of Atlanta United’s biggest soccer clubs, Footie Mob. It’s a casual sports bar with a handful of TVs, plus a large patio. The menu has typical bar food bites, but the execution makes the menu stand out. The fish and chips, smashburger, and wings are all fantastic.
The Midway Pub: 552 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
This part taqueria, part Edgewood neighborhood gathering spot is a fun place to watch a soccer match, especially when Atlanta United is on the screen. There’s an extensive menu with favs like tortas and birria tacos, as well as a big outdoor (and dog-friendly) patio with lawn games and place for kids to run around.
El Tesoro: 1374 Arkwright Pl SE, Atlanta, GA 30317
Photo: Booking.com/Bellyard Hotel
Read Matador Network’s guide to the best hotels near Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Steps away from Mercedes Benz stadium, the home of Atlanta United and all upcoming FIFA matches, this Hilton Hotel is your most practical choice for centering yourself in the action to catch the world-class Atlanta World cup matches. Fortunately, Nest on Four, its sports bar on the fourth floor, is not exclusive to hotel guests. It’s open to the public and a great place to start or end catching a soccer game. The halo of TVs mimics the large version inside Mercedes Benz stadium, and allows fans to catch all the action when several games are on at once. Rooms start around $200 per night in the summer.
This Marriott property in West Midtown never misses an opportunity to celebrate all things ATL. The hotel’s lobby-level bar, Drawbar, is offering a FIFA-themed cocktail to get visitors in the spirit of the World Cup. The Offside Spritz combines the flavors of lime, cucumber and sparkling water with Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint. Rates start around $250 per night in the summer.
This hotel is in the middle of downtown Atlanta, next to the best memory of the 1996 Olympics: Centennial Olympic Park. Stroll past the Olympic rings and fountains to get a feel for the park made just for Atlanta’s moment in the center of global sports competition. You’ll also be within walking distance of several of Atlanta’s major tourist attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. Rooms start around $150 per night in the summer. 