Groundbreaking date set for new soccer training center in Fayette County

A conceptual image of the U.S. Soccer National Training Center that will be built in Fayette County.

Credit: Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer

Credit: Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer

A conceptual image of the U.S. Soccer National Training Center that will be built in Fayette County.

Groundbreaking will be April 8 for the United States Soccer Federation’s new training center in Fayette County.

USSF announced the date on Monday. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

The training center will be the home for the USSF’s 27 teams. It will also house the headquarters for the federation.

Gensler, which has an office in Atlanta, is the architect. The goal remains to complete the facility before the 2026 World Cup. Eight matches are scheduled to be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

USSF announced in Sept. 2022 that it was moving from Chicago to Atlanta. It announced in Dec. 2022 a site in Fayette County as its home. The site, comprising more than 200 acres, is located to the west of Veterans Parkway and north of Trilith Studios.

Arthur Blank, owner of Atlanta United and the Falcons, donated $50 million toward the project. Coca-Cola, which is headquartered in Atlanta, also was announced as a founding partner.

Preliminary plans for the site will include as many 12 fields and more than 100,000 square feet of indoor courts, and the training center/headquarters, which will cover more than 200,000 square feet. USSF employs approximately 250 people.

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

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March 31 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., FOX

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April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., FOX

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April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

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May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

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June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX

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June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

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July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

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Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.

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