In a historic move that cements the city’s status as the beating heart of American soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has officially awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta.
Backed by billionaire philanthropist Arthur M. Blank and operated by AMB Sports and Entertainment, the new club will join the league as its 17th team and begin play in the 2028 season, with home matches at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
NWSL Set to Kick Off in 2028
The announcement, made Tuesday evening during the star-studded “Empower Her, Inspire All” event at The Interlock in Midtown Atlanta, drew cheers from a crowd of passionate fans, local leaders, and soccer dignitaries.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman hailed the addition as a “game-changer,” praising Atlanta’s “energy, diversity, and ambition” that will propel women’s professional soccer to new heights.
“This is a city that knows how to win,” Berman declared, spotlighting Atlanta’s proven track record with Blank’s other ventures, including the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and the wildly successful MLS powerhouse Atlanta United.
Blank, whose family foundation is seeding a new NWSL Foundation focused on women’s athlete health and performance, echoed the excitement.
“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.
The franchise comes at a league-record expansion fee of $165 million, with Blank committing an additional $330 million in investments to build a world-class operation.
This marks the NWSL’s first expansion since the additions of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC, both slated for 2026, and underscores the league’s rapid growth amid the global surge in women’s soccer following the U.S. Women’s National Team’s success and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A New Era at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Fans can look forward to high-energy matches under the retractable roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will be modified for soccer with a capacity of about 28,000—perfect for creating an intimate yet electric atmosphere.
The venue, already a soccer shrine that hosted a record 50,000 fans for a U.S. women’s national team friendly in 2024, will welcome the new team starting in 2028.
Plans are underway for a state-of-the-art training facility dedicated to the NWSL club, ensuring top-tier support for players.
AMBSE is also in the early stages of crafting a team name and brand identity, with direct input from Atlanta and Georgia’s soccer community—no timeline has been set, but the process promises to reflect the city’s vibrant spirit.
Leadership searches are already ramping up, led by Blank and AMBSE executives with input from sports consultancy Sportsology, to assemble a dedicated staff for day-to-day operations.
Reviving a Storied Soccer Tradition
This isn’t Atlanta’s first dance with women’s professional soccer.
The city was once home to the Atlanta Beat in the early 2000s, part of the now-defunct Women’s United Soccer Association and Women’s Professional Soccer leagues.
Though those teams folded amid league challenges, Atlanta’s fans have always shown up in force, setting the stage for this triumphant return.
Local leaders couldn’t contain their enthusiasm. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone joined the celebration, with Cone calling Blank a “consistent and passionate supporter of soccer at every level.”
Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso added that the move “reinforces the city’s standing as the center of the soccer world in America.” 6
As metro Atlanta continues to build its soccer empire—with Atlanta United’s MLS triumphs, the MLS Next Pro squad Atlanta United 2, and eight World Cup matches on deck for 2026—this NWSL addition feels like destiny.
Blank himself aims to replicate Atlanta United’s record-breaking launch, which was dubbed the most successful expansion in U.S. sports history.
Final Word
For now, the focus is on the future: a team that will inspire, unite, and dominate on the pitch.
As Berman put it, Atlanta has “all the ingredients to become one of the league’s most dynamic markets.” Soccer City, USA, just got a whole lot brighter.