Atlanta United FC is a professional soccer club based in Atlanta that competes in Major League Soccer's (MLS) Eastern Conference. Founded in 2014 and debuting in 2017 as the league's 22nd expansion team, the club is owned by Arthur Blank (co-founder of Home Depot) and plays its home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which it shares with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. Under first head coach Gerardo Martino, the team secured its first major honor by winning the MLS Cup in 2018, and has since added a U.S. Open Cup, an Eastern Conference championship, and a Campeones Cup to its trophy case. The club is renowned for setting league attendance records, and by 2026, Forbes estimated its value at approximately $1 billion, making it the fourth most valuable club in MLS. Interestingly, the franchise's path to existence was long—a 2008 bid was withdrawn due to budget shortfalls, but momentum was revived after the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers relocated in 2011, ultimately leading to the team's creation.