The United States Soccer Federation landed its second important sponsorship with an Atlanta-based company in announcing a four-year deal with Home Depot on Tuesday at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center under construction in Fayette County. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Home Depot joins Coca-Cola, whose partnership agreement was announced in July 2023, as Atlanta-based companies who are major sponsors of USSF. A donation of $50 million by Arthur Blank announced in September 2023 paved the way for the construction of the USSF’s first national training center. It is scheduled to be completed by April 2026.
“At Home Depot, we are committed to building things, and we’re no strangers to building things, and we are so proud to have this partnership to really help build soccer in the U.S.,” said Molly Battin, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Home Depot. “Our brand is all about communities. It’s about passion, and our customers and our associates are passionate about this sport, and we’re passionate to grow it together.”
USSF Chief Commercial Officer David Wright said there are discussions with more Atlanta-based companies about becoming partners that soon may yield results. Wright lauded Home Depot’s commitment.
“A big part of our growth strategy has centered around the ability to attract industry-leading blue-chip partners that share a purpose-driven approach, partners that share the same commitment to grow the sport at all levels of the game,” he said.
Tuesday’s ceremony included a steel beam carrying the flags of USSF and another for Home Depot being placed into the framing for the 200,000 square-foot building that will house the 27 teams, support staff and front office of USSF.
This commitment to USSF follows Home Depot’s partnership with FIFA announced in December last year for the 2026 World Cup. Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are scheduled to host eight matches in the tournament.
Battin said that the original donation made by Blank, a cofounder of Home Depot, didn’t influence the corporation’s decision to partner with USSF.
“We have been committed to the sport of soccer well before the decision to build this here in Atlanta,” she said. “So I would say we have a great relationship with Arthur Blank, with the (AMB Sports and Entertainment) foundation and with growing soccer in Atlanta.”
For its donation, Home Depot will receive signage at U.S. Soccer events. They also will use the agreement to spotlight Homegrown Heroes within the USSF, its teams, and the community by engaged them as game-day ambassadors. Other details still are being discussed.
In addition to the partnership, other updates were shared. Wright said that USSF is committed to bringing the 2031 Women’s World Cup to the United States, and U.S. Soccer Chief Financial Officer Chelle Adams said that it is having preliminary discussions with Fayette County officials about public transportation from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to the National Training Center.
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