U.S. Soccer gathered Thursday alongside leaders from across sport, business, philanthropy, and government to celebrate the official opening of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, located just south of Atlanta near the town of Trilith. The milestone event brought together the visionary leaders behind the project, culminating in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the beginning of a new era for soccer in the United States.
The National Training Center stands as a testament to extraordinary partnership, anchored by a $50 million lead gift from Arthur M. Blank, a land donation from Dan T. Cathy, and transformational women’s-specific support from Michele Kang. That leadership was matched by founding commercial partners and a broader community of donors who helped to establish this groundbreaking facility. As the new home for soccer in America, the National Training Center will serve as a cornerstone for U.S. Soccer’s strategic ambitions, fueling the growth and accessibility of the game across the country.
That same spirit of shared investment carries through a collective of partners united behind the National Training Center’s long-term impact. Founding partners, including AT&T, Bank of America, Chobani, Coca-Cola, Emory Healthcare, Nike, and ŌURA, are joined by a diverse network of supporting and supplier partners, many with deep roots in Georgia. Together, alongside the strong backing of the Fayetteville, Fayette County, and the state of Georgia, their partnership and commitment will help define the impact and legacy of the National Training Center for years to come.
“The National Training Center represents so much of what we want U.S. Soccer to be,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “It honors the people who have built this game over more than a century, and it gives us a home where we can serve the next generation of players, coaches, referees, members and fans. This facility was built for all 27 of our National Teams and for the entire soccer community, and now our job is to makesure everyone who walks through these doors feels like it belongs to them.”
Situated on a 200-acre site, the National Training Center currently occupies 123 developed acres, thoughtfully designed to accommodate future expansion as the game continues to grow and evolve. Today, the facility features:
- 17 outdoor playing surfaces including 13 regulation size natural grass fields, two artificial turf fields and two sand pitches for beach soccer
- More than 400,000 sq. ft of total facilities, including two indoor playing surfaces featuring an indoor artificial turf training facility and a full-size futsal/power court
- Indoor space that boasts a 10,000 sq ft. high-performance gym, 20 locker rooms, 19 meeting rooms for members, coaches and community, and dedicated headquarters space for all U.S. Soccer staff
“This is an exciting leap forward for soccer in this country,” said U.S. Soccer CEO, JT Batson. “The National Training Center is the product of a shared vision and deep partnership. Because of the commitment and hard work of so many, we’ve delivered a world-class facility on time and on budget, ensuring U.S. Soccer is in our new home ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
As the home to all of U.S. Soccer’s 27 National Teams, the National Training Center brings the U.S. Way to life – creating a player-first environment built for performance, accessibility and long-term development that will allow the shared standards and best practices that define the U.S. Way to be consistently delivered across every National Team. The National Training Center will provide coaches, players and support staff with unparalleled access to advanced sports science, performance data and world-class facilities, elevating talent identification, accelerating player development and optimizing recovery.
Beyond the impact on the National Teams, the facility will serve as a powerful catalyst for growth for the entire soccer community in the United States. Purpose-built with innovation and long-term impact at its core, the National Training Center strengthens U.S. Soccer’s shared, scalable infrastructure model, an essential pillar of the U.S. Way, while driving forward the development of coaches and referees through immersive education and research, hands-on learning and direct access to world-class expertise.
The National Training Center stands among the most accessible training facilities ever built, with inclusivity embedded in every aspect of its design. From the outset, the National Training Center was intentionally designed to ensure a seamless experience for all athletes and visitors, featuring a continuous surface throughout the building for full wheelchair accessibility, integrated tactile and audio/visual design elements, and thoughtfully designated locker rooms with lower benches and lockers. It also includes a dedicated charging room for power soccer chairs, reinforcing U.S. Soccer’s commitment to removing barriers and creating environments where every player can thrive.
“Today marks a defining moment, not just for soccer, but for our entire community,” said Arthur M. Blank. “To see this vision come to life is incredibly powerful. This has been a true team effort, driven by shared belief, partnership and a commitment to growing the beautiful game across our state and throughout the country. My family and our portfolio of businesses are deeply honored to be part of something that will shape lives both on and off the field. What’s been built here is extraordinary, but even more exciting is what comes next. I look forward to what will be achieved here in the years ahead.”
Later this month, The National Training Center will host its first National Team competitions, welcoming U.S. Soccer’s annual AdaptandThrive Invitational. The U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team will also train at the facility at the end of May as they make final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
About U.S. Soccer
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition is to ignite a national passion for the game and elevate its power to unite, inspire, and uplift. We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. We are focused on three areas: U.S. Soccer Everywhere, making soccer the #1 played sport in every community in America; U.S. Soccer is Yours, ensuring everyone feels ownership of soccer’s future in the U.S., and U.S. Soccer Success, winning major tournaments, including World Cups. Together, the future of the game is ours to build. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.
