This weekend, five of Atlanta United’s Academy teams open the 2021-22 MLS NEXT season, marking the club’s second year participating in Major League Soccer’s new player development league.
Atlanta United’s U-13 through U-17 teams take a short trip to Austell, Georgia to play Southern Soccer Academy (SSA) at Marathon Soccer Park on Saturday, Sept. 4.
February was the last time Atlanta United and SSA met in MLS NEXT competition. The U-14s, U-15s, U-16s, U-17s and U-19s all came out victorious, with the U-13s suffering a 1-0 defeat.
Age Group |
Time (ET) |
Marathon Soccer Park (Field #) |
|---|---|---|
U-13 |
9:00 a.m. |
Field 1 |
U-14 |
11:00 a.m. |
Field 1 |
U-15 |
11:00 a.m. |
Field 3 |
U-16 |
1:00 p.m. |
Field 3 |
U-17 |
9:00 a.m. |
Field 3 |
None of these teams are strangers to one another, particularly after the pandemic restricted Atlanta United’s Academy to local competition for much of last season.
The club hosted SSA and 31 other local youth teams for the inaugural Unite Youth Cup. The tournament, which took place at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground and featured 13 clubs throughout the state, culminated in a sweep of all three age groups (U-14, U-15, U-17) for the 5-Stripes.
Mark your calendars: The U-12s still await the start of the Southeastern Clubs Champions League season. They’ll play their first matches at home on September 18th & 19th.
