To celebrate Atlanta’s thriving soccer culture and vibrant international community, Soccer in the Streets has launched a new summer benefit tournament and festival that will connect representatives from various countries around a shared love of the beautiful game.
Presented by Global Atlanta, the inaugural ATL Nations Cup tournament kicks off Saturday, July 2 at Grady Stadium, with a start time of 10:30 a.m. A Beer, Cheese, Soccer festival and UEFA EURO 2016 watch party — hosted byPark Tavern and the French-American Chamber of Commerce — will immediately follow the tournament.
Following the record-breaking success of ATL Champions League and Black Tie Soccer, ATL Nations Cup adds a third major benefit tournament to the Soccer in the Streets event calendar. Based on the ATL Champions League format, ATL Nations Cup features ten teams in five-a-side, co-ed competition and a fundraising challenge to support soccer programs and developmental training for Atlanta’s at-risk youth. Unlike Soccer in the Streets’ other tournaments, ATL Nations Cup players will represent international sides like France, Germany, the United States and more.
“In recent years, the growth of our fundraising tournaments has been through the amazing support of passionate fans in the city wanting to give back to our community,” said Soccer in the Streets events committee chairman Bill Ford. “With our new Nations Cup, we are embracing the strong international representation in our city.”
Player registration is now open for the tournament, and participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to avoid missing the action. Fans will not have to pay an admission price for the ATL Nations Cup tournament, but a ticket is required for the Beer, Cheese, Soccer event that follows.
ATL Nations Cup and the accompanying Beer, Cheese, Soccer party at Park Tavern will celebrate a Soccer in the Streets delegation atstreetfootballworld’s Festival 16. Five young Soccer in the Streets leaders will travel to Lyon, France, for a recognized UEFA EURO event that unites like-minded nonprofit organizations from across the globe to discuss the sport’s power as a tool for social change and development.
“For many, soccer is the international language,” Ford said. “Wherever you travel in the world, that simple round ball has immense power to overcome cultural and socioeconomic barriers. We are creating an event where Atlanta’s international community can demonstrate the power of the beautiful game to bring nations together for a powerful cause.”
After ATL Nations Cup wraps up on the field, Beer, Cheese, Soccer at Park Tavern will give guests a chance to tour the world’s cuisine and quarterfinal matchup from the EURO 2016 tournament. Soccer in the Streets’ delegation will stream video all the way from France to Park Tavern, so party-goers and supporters can see an up-close and personal view of the Festival activities and progress.
To learn more about the new ATL Nations Cup, including leaderboards, rules, and much more, please visit atlnc.soccerstreets.org. Players and supporters can also follow the tournament’s new Twitter and Facebookaccounts for daily updates before, during, and after the competition.