U.S. Soccer National Training Center on track to open April 2026, partners with Home Depot

U.S. Soccer’s state of the art National Training Center is progressing rapidly in the Trilith area of Fayette County, and the federation now has another extended partnership entering the fold. The Home Depot and U.S. Soccer announced today that the Atlanta-based home improvement store will be sponsoring all 27 of the U.S. national teams and will also become a Supporting Level partner of the new training center.

Arthur Blank’s flagship company is the latest in a line of strategic corporate partnerships that U.S. Soccer has involved with the National Training Center. The ability to build these partnerships in the Atlanta area was one of the many reasons the federation chose metro-Atlanta as the NTC’s location, according to U.S. Soccer’s Chief Commercial Officer David Wright.

“The Home Depot’s deep roots in the Atlanta community and strong ties to sports, and soccer in general, make it a perfect strategic partner for our Federation,” said Wright. “Its support is crucial toward building our National Training Center and helping us unite communities across the country through the beautiful game, and we look forward to what we can achieve together in service to soccer.” 

The training center comprises a property of about 200 acres in Fayette County, with about 130 acres graded for 17 soccer pitches, the main building containing a high performance area, cafeteria, and lockers, and other buildings across the lot.

Wright noted the intentionality of the overall layout of the center, with the senior team pitches nearer to the main building, while the pitches further down the hill will primarily be used for youth teams. The symbolism there being that the younger generations should always be striving to achieve that next level in their life and career.

The Home Depot seemed a natural fit as a partner for not only U.S. Soccer, but the National Training Center specifically, as Arthur Blank himself made a very significant investment to make this central location a reality prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Home Depot is a worldwide leader in the construction industry, so it’s only fitting for Blank’s company to help build the first centralized U.S. Soccer location in history.

Wright also mentioned getting the community involved once the location is open, noting that it’s a facility that’s programmed to operate 365 days a year.

“It’ll be the youth level, the collegiate level, the professional level, and you’ll see a lot of tours. Obviously Trilith Studios is right down the way, so I think you’ll see us forge deeper relationships with the folks there. We’ve had a lot of great conversations around fan engagement opportunities as we think about what the National Training Center brings to this community.”

The announcement was accompanied by an event at the location, where representatives from U.S. Soccer and Home Depot, along with local media, signed one of the main structural beams for the center and received a tour of the facility thus far. The NTC is currently on track to open a couple of months prior to the World Cup in 2026, giving time for the senior U.S. Men’s National Team and the 26 other teams to settle in to their new home before the biggest sporting event in the history of the world arrives in the United States.

“The Home Depot is thrilled to deepen our commitment to soccer through this partnership with The U.S. Soccer Federation,” said Molly Battin, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at The Home Depot. “Our customers are passionate about sports, including soccer, and we’re proud to support the game they love. This partnership allows us to help build the foundation for the future of soccer in the U.S.”

From a local soccer perspective, the training center will become a headquarters for much needed growth in the United States soccer sphere. It’ll be a place where youth camps can be held and coaching education can expand, and it’ll serve as a cathedral for all things soccer-related in the Atlanta area.

Let us know below what you think of the updates to the National Training Center!