Atlanta’s NWSL Expansion Team Unveils Its Name: Atlanta City FC
Atlanta’s National Women’s Soccer League expansion team will play as Atlanta City FC. AMB Sports and Entertainment revealed the name, crest, and colors on September 28, 2026. The crest shows a rising phoenix framed by a dogwood blossom, and the club begins play in 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the league’s 17th franchise.
Key Takeaways
- AMB Sports and Entertainment announced the Atlanta City FC name, crest, and wordmarks on its website and social media channels on Monday, September 28, 2026.
- The circular crest centers on a phoenix with the letter “A” built into the bird’s body, set inside a dogwood blossom, Georgia’s state flower.
- The club’s four colors, collectively called The Soul of Atlanta, are Atlanta red, Georgia peach, platinum metallic, and black char.
- Atlanta City FC will use the shorthand “ATL CTY” to avoid overlapping with Los Angeles-based Angel City FC, which already uses the ACFC initials.
- Atlanta City FC and a Columbus, Ohio expansion team will both join the NWSL in 2028, bringing the league to 18 teams.
- The club launched two merchandise lines with the reveal: standard fan gear through Nike and a premium line with Peace Collective.
The Phoenix Puts Atlanta’s Oldest Civic Symbol On A Soccer Crest
The phoenix is the central choice in Atlanta City FC’s identity. It has been Atlanta’s emblem since the city rebuilt after being burned during the Civil War, and it appears on the city seal alongside the motto Resurgens. Few sports brands in the market have made the bird their primary mark. Atlanta City FC has made it the focus of the crest, with a red-to-peach gradient and the letter “A” built into its body.
The dogwood blossom surrounding the phoenix adds a second layer of local meaning. Georgia’s state flower connects the club to the wider region, while the phoenix speaks to the city itself. Together, the design links Atlanta City FC to both the city and the state.
Chief business officer Deandra Duggans described the identity in terms of the city’s character. “Atlanta is a city that has always forged its own path,” she said. Owner Arthur M. Blank said the goal was to build a club with “a brand that reflects our city’s strength, diversity and spirit.”
A Color Palette Built To Stand Apart In A Red-Heavy Sports Market
Atlanta’s professional teams lean heavily on red. The Falcons, Hawks, and Braves all use it, and Atlanta United, the MLS club that Blank also owns, wears black, gold, and red. Atlanta City FC’s “Atlanta red” is meant to be distinct from the red in those other logos. Georgia peach gives the club a color no other NWSL team uses.
The two supporting colors also carry meaning. Black char and platinum metallic are meant to represent Atlanta’s cultural luster and its resistance to tarnish. Grouped under the name The Soul of Atlanta, the palette connects the club to a regional identity in a way the name itself doesn’t.
The ATL CTY Shorthand Avoids A Branding Collision
The name Atlanta City FC produces the same ACFC initials that Angel City FC already uses. The club addressed that directly. Atlanta City FC will use “ATL CTY” as its tertiary wordmark and shorthand, leaving ACFC to the Los Angeles club. Angel City FC staff also consulted on the branding process, a sign of cooperation between an established club and an incoming one.
Atlanta City FC Built Its Identity With Community Input
The club did not develop the brand only within the front office. The consultation process included Arthur and Josh Blank, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, local soccer supporters, and deposit holders in the club’s Founding Members program. Involving early fans matters for an expansion team that won’t play a match for more than a year, because those fans are the base the club needs for season tickets and matchday crowds.
Along with the primary crest, Atlanta City FC released a wordmark, a combination mark, and an alternate wordmark. The two merchandise lines went on sale the same day, so fans can wear the brand well before the first kickoff.
Atlanta’s Women’s Sports Economy Is Growing Ahead Of 2028
The NWSL awarded the franchise to Atlanta in November 2025 for what was reported as a record expansion fee. Since then, AMB Sports and Entertainment has broken ground on a $100 million training facility in Marietta for the new club. Atlanta City FC joins an AMBSE lineup that includes the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, and the Atlanta Drive Golf Club. The club will share Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a venue already built for large soccer crowds.
Atlanta City FC arrives as women’s pro sports in the city gain attention. The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream recently saw Angel Reese, in her first season in Atlanta, named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. With a pro soccer club, a WNBA team, and a stadium experienced in hosting top-level soccer, Atlanta is building a women’s sports sector with room to grow in attendance, sponsorship, and local jobs.
The NWSL’s move to 18 teams in 2028, with Atlanta City FC and Columbus arriving together, puts the Atlanta club in a growing league during a period of expansion. Branding is only the first step. Hiring a coach, signing players, and selling season memberships will follow. Whether fans adopt the phoenix, the dogwood, and the peach will show in the stands at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2028.
FAQs
What Is The Name Of Atlanta’s NWSL Team?
Atlanta’s National Women’s Soccer League team is called Atlanta City FC. The name, crest, and colors were announced on September 28, 2026.
When Does Atlanta City FC Start Playing?
Atlanta City FC will begin competitive play in the 2028 NWSL season. Home matches will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
What Are Atlanta City FC’s Colors?
The club’s official colors are Atlanta red, Georgia peach, platinum metallic, and black char. Together, the palette is called The Soul of Atlanta.
Who Owns Atlanta City FC?
Atlanta City FC is owned by Arthur M. Blank through AMB Sports and Entertainment. The same group owns the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Why Does Atlanta City FC Use ATL CTY Instead Of ACFC?
Angel City FC, the NWSL’s Los Angeles club, already uses the ACFC initials. Atlanta City FC adopted “ATL CTY” as its shorthand to keep the two brands separate.