Major League Soccer team Atlanta United to play exhibition game in Athens
The former champions of the highest league in American soccer are set to play an exhibition match in Athens.
Atlanta United, who play in Major League Soccer, will play a preseason match at the University of Georgia’s Turner Soccer Complex, club President Darren Eales said Wednesday. The club will face Georgia Revolution FC on Jan. 30 at noon, UGA Athletics revealed Thursday.
“Sort of hope some of the success they had last season is going to rub off on us this year,” Eales said of the UGA football team winning the national championship.
The UGA Soccer Stadium's official capacity is 1,750, but there's been several times when more than 2,000 fans of been in attendance. The highest attendance was for a match against Illinois on Sept. 5, 2003 where 3,312 filled the stadium.
The match will be live streamed and ticket information will be sent out Monday, Jan. 24. Tickets will go on sale to Atlanta United season ticket members on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
“We’re excited about playing (in Athens) and just having a chance to meet our supporters where they are,” Eales said.
Atlanta United, who won the MLS Cup in 2018, finished fifth in 2021 and lost in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs to New York City FC. They're scheduled to begin the 2022 campaign Feb. 27 against Sporting Kansas City in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
McClain Baxley is a recruiting reporter for the Athens Banner-Herald and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email at mbaxley@onlineathens.com or on Twitter at @mcclainbaxley.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Professional soccer club to play match in Athens at UGA
