Council Leaders Join Opening of Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center

Published: June 1, 2026

On May 21, 2026, World Affairs Council of Atlanta President Rickey Bevington and Director Jackie Davis attended the opening of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, marking a significant milestone for both U.S. Soccer and the state’s growing role in international sports.

The state-of-the-art complex is the first dedicated home of the U.S. Soccer Federation and is expected to serve as a hub for athletic excellence, international competition and community engagement. The facility further strengthens Georgia’s position as a destination for major global sporting events and international exchange.

While attending the inaugural CP Men’s International Challenge Match and touring the new complex, council leadership also connected with current and former Global Leadership Fellows representing a range of sectors across Atlanta’s internationally engaged community.

Their presence highlighted the strength of the council’s network and the relationships fostered through the Global Leadership Fellows program. The gathering offered an opportunity to reconnect with alumni and celebrate the many ways Atlanta’s leaders continue to engage with global issues across business, government, education and civil society.

The opening also reflected themes explored during the council’s recent program, The World Cup in Atlanta: The Making of America’s Soccer Capital, a conversation with U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson that examined Atlanta’s growing role in the future of soccer and international sports.

Read the full recap, watch the recording and view photos from our recent conversation with U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson.