Atlanta United will participate in the Carolina Challenge Cup in February 2017, as announced by the tournament hosts, Charleston Battery, today. Atlanta United will play a total of three matches against Charleston Battery, Columbus Crew SC and Seattle Sounders. All matches will be held at MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, S.C.
“We’re very excited to participate in next year’s Carolina Challenge Cup,” said Atlanta United President Darren Eales. “As we prepare for our inaugural season, it was vitally important for us to schedule high-caliber competition before we enter the MLS Regular Season. It was also equally important for us to have the opportunity to extend our already established fan base deeper into the Southeast region.”
This year’s Carolina Challenge Cup (CCC) will be the 13th staging of the tournament, and returns after a one-year hiatus. The Charleston Battery first held the CCC in 2004, becoming one of the first lower-division American soccer clubs to host multiple MLS teams for preseason. The tournament has offered soccer fans in South Carolina the opportunity to see international superstars play in Charleston for more than a decade.
The four participating teams will play in a round robin style tournament with matches over the course of three days in February:
Saturday, February 18th
- Charleston Battery vs. Columbus Crew SC (4:30 pm)
- Atlanta United vs. Seattle Sounders (7:00 pm)
Wednesday, February 22nd
- Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew SC (5:00 pm)
- Charleston Battery vs. Seattle Sounders (7:30 pm)
Saturday, February 25th
- Seattle Sounders vs. Columbus Crew SC (4:30 pm)
- Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United (7:00 pm)
“We are thrilled to bring Major League Soccer back to Charleston, South Carolina for the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup,” said Andrew Bell, Charleston Battery President. “We always enjoy the level of excitement that these games bring and we look forward to our local soccer fans being able to see some of the very best players in the U.S. right here in the Lowcountry.”
