While the U.S. Women’s National Team is no stranger to trophies and championships, there’s something special about a team having a place to call home. For Alex Morgan, that’s a key ingredient in elevating the team further beyond their already substantial capabilities in world soccer as they prepare for both the 2024 Olympics and an imminent coaching change.
“We’re just excited to be in Atlanta, not only for our Atlanta girlies here on the team…it’s been quite a few years since we’ve played here,” said Morgan about the potential record-breaking ticket numbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for this weekend’s SheBelieves Cup. “We’re really looking forward to it, especially with Atlanta being U.S. Soccer’s HQ.”
Atlanta is no stranger to big soccer crowds – this isn’t bombshell news – but fans in the dirty south have been aching to show their love to U.S. Soccer since 2016 when the USWNT last played a match here against the Netherlands in the now-extinct Georgia Dome. But that was before Atlanta United’s first team ever kicked a ball and broke attendance-record after attendance-record in MLS and worldwide soccer. With U.S. Soccer preparing to break ground on their National Training Center in metro-Atlanta, multiple high profile tournaments in the pipeline, and soccer fever in the city continuing to run rampant, there perhaps hasn’t been a better time for the USWNT to make their return.
“You look at some of the best teams in the world, federations, everyone has a headquarters. We’ve always had our offices in Chicago, but a lot of our training sites are in L.A. and so to have that all together will be really important for us. Just knowing we have quality grass fields, great training facilities, locker rooms, everything we could possibly need in the same space where we can all go before a major tournament and train any time of the day or night is going to be great for us,” Morgan noted. “I’ve been looking forward to this for many years on the team and when it was announced that U.S. Soccer would be moving forward with it, I was personally very excited.”
The SheBelieves Cup marks a perfect opportunity for U.S. fans to show how Atlanta does soccer, and why the city is the perfect place for every U.S. team to call home. With ticket sales already over 45,000, attendance is set to likely be the second-highest for a USWNT friendly ever (it’s considered a friendly since it isn’t a true FIFA competition) – though it isn’t far from breaking the previous 49,000 record.
That’s not to say the SheBelieves Cup is without its challenges. The four teams involved – United States, Japan, Canada, and Brazil – are each participating in the summer Olympics, so this is the perfect appetizer for the Paris tournament in a few months. Meanwhile, interim coach Twila Kilgore is set to step down in May when Chelsea Women’s coach Emma Hayes takes over head coaching duties. It’s a very transitionary period for the USWNT, but it’s not a moment they can’t handle.
“Right now Twila is our coach,” stated Morgan. “Emma has another team she’s taking care of so we have to take everything in stride and I think this team is really good at that. It’s not something we’re not used to, we’ve dealt with a lot of change, we’ve dealt with different coaches, players, staff, locations. We kind of get uprooted from our homes and just flown everywhere, and the only things that are consistent are the grass and the fans that we hope continue to show up and support us.”
That all begins Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Alex Morgan, Emily Sonnett, and the rest of the U.S. Women’s National Team take on a very tough and disciplined Japan squad. The match starts at 12:30 as part of the double header which also includes Brazil playing Canada at 3:30.
“We’re all really eager to play this game in Atlanta because it has been so long since we’ve been here, and we have some great players who call Atlanta home or have grown up in Atlanta. We know the fans are going to show up and be loud and give us a lot of energy; we see that with Atlanta United every week so we want to see that on the women’s side as well. And hopefully in the future week in and week out with a women’s team,” praised Morgan.
For what it’s worth, all signs point to the idea of a women’s team in Atlanta being an absolute success – when it happens. But hey, that’s coming from a two-time World Cup winner, don’t just take it from other opinions. Regardless, welcome to Atlanta, USWNT!
As part of our SheBelieves Cup coverage, come join us just after the double header on Saturday, April 6th at 6:30 at the new Signia by Hilton hotel/Nest on Four bar right next door to Mercedes-Benz Stadium! We’ll be hosting a live show recapping the first matches of the SheBelieves Cup before previewing Atlanta United vs NYCFC – and then we’re hanging out for a watch party – and it’s open to everyone. Come chill with the Scarves and Spikes crew!
[…] in Midtown. The announcement marks the 17th club to join the NWSL ranks, and at a time when the beautiful game is already growing massively in Atlanta. U.S. Soccer’s new headquarters will be opening in a few months, […]
[…] to what’s referred to as the Truist Pavilion, which is typically where visiting teams (like the recent USWNT visit, or last year’s Cruz Azul visit) set up shop. The top floor will be redesigned, while the […]
[…] Alex Morgan and USWNT prep for SheBelieves Cup, excited to call Atlanta home […]
Who’s the girl in the black? Good lawd!