The 2016 Major League Soccer season came to a close with a MLS Cup final that Hollywood itself could not have scripted. First off, congratulations to the Seattle Sounds FC on winning its first MLS Cup in club history. With this, 2016 is over and we now look to 2017 and see what it will offer us. The CONCACAF Champions League, more US Men’s National Team Qualification, and the first season for two MLS expansion teams. We welcome Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC. Atlanta is a brand new team looking to build its team from scratch and introduce a new style of developing players and running an organization. Minnesota United FC is coming from NASL, North American Soccer League, and plan to use some of the pieces they have their and build on it. They will also be having a new stadium to play in. This wee though we will be focusing on Atlanta and its journey to becoming part of the league.
In 2014, MLS announced that the 22nd team of the league would be Atlanta, Georgia. Arthur Blank leads the ownership group that introduce the expansion in front of 50,000 people. With arms wide open, the city Atlanta welcomed the professional team at a time where the city saw the Atlanta Silverbacks be forced to leave NASL due to ownership problems. After announcing the expansion, Atlanta did not rest with breaking ground on a stadium that will be shared with Atlanta Falcons from the NFL. The team also began to work on training grounds and developing an academy system. The academy system aids in training younger kids to fine tune his or her skills. And, if the club chooses to, it can call up these academy members to play for it when they get to an older age.
On July 7, 2015, the expansion side announced that their name would be Atlanta United FC. The club decided to use “United” in its name because they have hopes that this club can help united the city and all of its cultures with a common love of the game. The team’s color were also announced to be red and black as its primary. Since then, Atlanta has been pressing forward getting ready for the 2017 season. Its academy has been going to different tournaments playing other MLS sides such as Seattle and Philadelphia. The academy has been looking strong and even saw one of its own, Andrew Carleton, in the U-17 USMNT, United States Men National Team, roster.
The main roster for the 2017 Atlanta United FC looks to be a young strong group. The team will see the young phenomes Andrew Carleton and Hector Villalba. We will also see Miguel Almiron take the field for the club. Atlanta have 18 men on the roster currently and look to continue working the roster with the super draft next year and last minute trades. Atlanta looks poised to strike this season and should be an exciting team to watch. Do not be surprised if they make the playoffs as a lower seed this year.
