Atlanta is officially joining the National Women’s Soccer League. League Commissioner Jessica Berman announced the city has been awarded the NWSL’s 17th franchise, set to begin play in 2028, during a celebration hosted by Arthur Blank’s family foundation Friday night at The Interlock.
NWSL comes to Atlanta in 2028
Berman said Atlanta’s bid checked every box for a new club: ownership, fan base, and facilities. “You have some of the best ownership in professional sports in the Blank family,” she told the crowd. “You have an incredible sports market that knows how to show up week in and week out for your teams. And you have top-notch facilities in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.”
The new club will be owned by Blank’s AMB Sports + Entertainment group, which also owns the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Blank said the team will have its own world-class training facility and play home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Today marks another tremendous milestone for our city, for our state, and for the sport of soccer in America,” Blank said. “Atlanta has been awarded National Women’s Soccer League club number 17, and that’ll match our 17s.”
Blank said the new team represents an opportunity to inspire the next generation. “It is my hope that this club will ignite something powerful in everyone who watches, especially young people, and light a spark that says if they can do it, so can I,” he said. “Our NWSL players will be role models who embody excellence, determination, and unshakable belief that anything is possible.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens credited Blank’s leadership for helping make Atlanta the “epicenter of soccer in this country.” He said the new franchise will build on a growing legacy that includes Atlanta United’s record-breaking fan base, the city’s role in hosting eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, and the soon-to-open U.S. Soccer National Training Center.
“Somewhere in Atlanta right now could be the world’s next great soccer star who will come of age knowing she can train here, play here, and win right here in Atlanta,” Dickens said. “The arrival of women’s professional soccer is about creating opportunity for players, staffers, and fans.”
U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cohn, a former Atlanta Beat player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, said the league’s return marks a full-circle moment for the city. “Arthur, your belief and bold vision for soccer in Atlanta have taken the sport to new heights,” she said. “This new NWSL team will lead the way and continue to inspire the next generation.”
The new Atlanta franchise revives a tradition that began with the original Atlanta Beat teams that played in the early 2000s and 2010s. It will be the league’s first expansion since Denver Summit FC joined earlier this year. The expansion fee was reported to be a record $165 million.
Berman said fans can now officially start counting down to kickoff. “Thank you for showing up on day zero,” she said. “You get to be a fan of the league for the next two and a half years. So watch our games, support the league, and get ready for 2028.”
