High-end training facility for U.S. soccer pleases players

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. – More than 20,000 plants, shrubs and trees surround modern architecture that features a gym made of recycled shoes. Soccer players, from teenagers to U.S. national team members, roam the grounds.

Welcome to the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center situated 20 miles south of Atlanta. The high-end facility that houses all 27 U.S. national teams opened on May 7 and featured the U.S. men’s national team holding its first training session on Thursday.

It is another symbol that the United States is taking its soccer seriously as it prepares to host the FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico from June 10 to July 19.

“For me, it’s the best,” forward Tim Weah said. “State of the art. I think when you have something like this, you want to continue playing for years and years.”

The new facility shows how far U.S. soccer has come in the last decade.

“It’s a little bit surreal,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “Growing up, we were training at StubHub Center in L.A. as the youth national team and those facilities to me were amazing when you start at 14 years old and you’re playing with the national team. Whereas now, we have this facility, I couldn’t even guess how much it costs.”

U.S. men’s soccer players practice on Friday at one of the outdoor fields at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia. (Photo by Gentry Roberts/Cronkite News)

It took $200 million to build the full complex on 123 acres and features 19 playing surfaces (17 outdoor and two indoor). The indoor spaces account for approximately 200,000 square feet.

“I think it’s an amazing thing and a huge step forward for soccer in general for America,” midfielder Weston McKinnie said.

Fayette County was selected as host of the new facility in 2023. Atlanta’s moniker as the “City in a Forest” inspired a decision to maintain natural wildlife. The grounds surrounding the headquarters feature over 21,000 plants, shrubs and trees that were planted in the fall of 2025 to ensure they would be ready in May.

The outside features significant greenery, while the inside includes the Nike High Performance Gym, a 10,000-square feet building that allows two full teams to train at the same time.

“The flooring of the gym features recycled Nike shoes,” U.S. Soccer digital editor Sandy McAfee said.

Accomplishments don a trophy case inside the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. (Photo by Gentry Roberts/Cronkite News)

The facility left some players wondering what their younger selves would think.

“15-year-old Max would be so hyped to be here,” defender Max Arfsten said. “I would be wanting to use every single thing that’s here. I’m trying to do that right now.”

Forward Folarin Bolagun was excited to learn he could indulge in one of his favorite pastimes.

“I think everyone knows how much I like table tennis, so I’ll be looking for that after practice,” he said.

Other players are focused on more serious amenities, including a recovery room, 20 locker rooms and 19 meeting rooms.

The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center includes two artificial turf fields and two sand pitches for beach soccer as well as 13 regulation size natural grass fields. (Photo by Gentry Roberts/Cronkit News)

The new facility is home to all 27 U.S. national teams and over 350 U.S. Soccer staff members. It is designed to motivate the next wave of U.S. soccer players to reach the senior level.

“I think it’s amazing because coming here you’re like, ‘I want to get to the top, I want to get to the top fields up here,’” McKinnie said. “It’s kind of a way that the younger generations can see a path for themselves. It can also be integrated with all ages and levels of soccer here.”

No matter what happens in the World Cup this summer, U.S. Soccer is making strides to compete with the world on the pitch.