Atlanta City FC: Atlanta’s New NWSL Era Begins

Atlanta’s newest professional sports team finally has an identity.

On Monday, the city’s incoming National Women’s Soccer League franchise unveiled its official name, crest and colors, introducing Atlanta City FC ahead of its debut in the league in 2028. The club will become the NWSL’s 17th franchise and will play its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, bringing professional women’s soccer to one of the biggest sporting venues in the city. 

The new club is being built by Arthur M. Blank and AMB Sports and Entertainment, the same ownership group behind the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Atlanta was officially awarded the NWSL expansion franchise in November 2025, with the team originally introduced simply as the league’s Atlanta expansion side before Monday’s branding reveal. 

Now, with a name attached to the project, the club has taken another significant step toward its inaugural season.

Atlanta City FC’s visual identity is designed around several elements connected to the city.

The centerpiece of the crest is a phoenix, reflecting Atlanta’s history of rebuilding and renewal. The club’s official branding also incorporates a dogwood blossom, while red and peach form the primary colors of the new identity. The phoenix’s shape also contributes to an “A” for Atlanta within the crest. 

The club said the identity was developed with input from supporters and was intended to reflect Atlanta’s resilience, culture, innovation and ambition.

That process gives the expansion side something it previously lacked: a recognizable identity before it takes the field.

When Atlanta City FC begins play in 2028, its home matches will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the downtown venue that already serves as the home of Atlanta United and the Falcons.

The NWSL plans for the stadium to be modified specifically for the women’s team, with an expected matchday capacity of approximately 28,000. The venue has already hosted major soccer events, including international matches, MLS games and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The club’s arrival also gives Atlanta another professional soccer team operating within the Blank sports portfolio. Atlanta United competes in MLS, while Atlanta City FC will become the city’s first current NWSL franchise.

The city has previously had professional women’s soccer, most notably through the Atlanta Beat, but the new club represents Atlanta’s return to the top level of the women’s game under the NWSL structure. 

Although Atlanta City FC will not play its first competitive match until 2028, work on the club has already moved beyond the branding stage.

In March, AMB Sports and Entertainment announced plans for a dedicated training ground in Marietta. The project will sit on nearly 33 acres and is planned to include an approximately 38,000-square-foot facility, four full-size fields and two half-pitches. Construction is already underway. 

The timing of Atlanta City FC’s arrival is also significant.

Atlanta has become one of the most prominent soccer markets in the United States over the past decade, with Atlanta United establishing a large supporter culture and Mercedes-Benz Stadium becoming a regular destination for major international and domestic matches. The city also hosted eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semifinal. 

The NWSL franchise now adds another layer to that soccer ecosystem, this time centered entirely on the women’s game.

For Atlanta City FC, however, the most important date remains 2028.

There is still no inaugural roster, head coach or first opponent. Those pieces will come later. For now, the club has its name, its crest, its colors, its stadium and a training ground under construction.

Atlanta City FC has officially arrived.

The next chapter will be written on the field.