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December 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United defender Franco Escobar (2) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the Portland Timbers in the second half during the 2018 MLS Cup championship game at the Mercedes-Benz stadium. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
ATLANTA – A crowd of 51,834 people invaded the Mercedes-Benz stadium to attend a football game Wednesday night, but this time Atlanta United was not involved.
It may be something that Atlanta sports fans could get used to. The Mexican national met Venezuela in a friendly international match, and the match had the atmosphere of a home match for El Tri.
There were familiar faces involved. The match closely resembled supporters of Gerardo "Tata" Martino, former coach of Atlanta United, in his new position in Mexico. Last year's Major League Soccer player Josef Martínez, Atlanta's top scorer, dominated in the second half with a standing ovation. The hug between Martínez and Martino before the match was captured by cameras on the Mercedes-Benz halo board and sparked a similar reaction.
If the power of the stars in these shows off Atlanta is an advantage, it is not a requirement for national teams or overseas clubs to play in Atlanta.
"The discussions with the league to play Mexico here and to sign an agreement came well before Tata became the head coach," Tim Zulawski, director of recipes Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, said. "Thanks to the talent of the team at Atlanta United, we know that our players will be constantly called to be part of the national team. We hope that from time to time, they will have the opportunity to play in front of their audience, here at the Mercedes-Benz stadium, but it is not necessary to bring a match to Atlanta. "
Atlanta is a promising candidate to be one of the 10 US cities to host matches at the 2026 World Cup. The current plot for this tournament also requires that matches be played in three cities, each at Canada and Mexico.
It is still in its early stages in the process, but the confidence of local officials to be involved in seven summers from now seems high. The city hopes to occupy a place of choice in the semi-finals of the tournament. Proposals will be submitted by the summer of next year for evaluation at the end of 2020 and early 2021.
Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso said most host site discussions by the time nominations were announced last summer have been held between cities and their organizations. respective football teams, and not details of 2026 host sites.
"We have not started yet, but expect soon, to get into the process of identifying cities," said Corso.
Atlanta still has some goals. The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, and direct flight access to most of the country only helps the Atlanta file for accommodation.
"It's awesome for a city to be able to host these events, but you need infrastructure," said Corso. "I think it starts with the sites. MBS in the case of the FIFA World Cup, having the busiest airport in the world helps a lot. "
Corso said that the momentum given to Atlanta's important events can only further strengthen the city's resume. On the subjective side, Atlanta is in the middle of a five-year race that includes five very attractive sporting events. The 2017 National University Playoffs Championship came first, followed by the 2018 MLS All-Star Game and the Super Bowl 53. The fourth NCAA Final will be on the list in 2020 and the newly announced 2021 All-Star Game will follow. . .
Atlanta's recent experience hosting great games only helps if these events are successful.
Perhaps that adds to the appeal that Mexico has felt at home in Atlanta, playing in front of more than 51,000 fans. Martino certainly has a soft spot for Atlanta, but the large crowd on a weekday night – with half of the upper decks blocked – has highlighted the city's many football fans. It's not just about Atlanta United, nor about the US men's national team.
"For the large number of Mexicans who were here, I have no doubt that [Mercedes-Benz Stadium] should be considered [for the World Cup]Said Martino. "If on top of that Mexico plays here, it's an even bigger reason."
What credit does the city of Atlanta have to football, it's Atlanta United? But the Mercedes-Benz stadium could see more friendly five-band matches. The leaders are receptive to the European market, including the English Premier League, which was already playing friendly matches against MLS clubs this summer.
"We hope so," Zulawski said. "We know that when these clubs come to the United States to play, they want to play in the best facilities and in front of the biggest crowd, and I think we have that here in Atlanta."
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