“When it comes to women's sports, I think we're kind of dispelling the idea that people aren't interested in it,” she said, visiting from Seattle and speaking with her daughter Piper and her husband before the game at Centennial Park. said Angela Makehoff, who was enjoying the festivities. “I think people are very interested in sports if given the opportunity and platform. It's really great for her to meet people who want to meet women.”
Amy Weiss and Lauren Akziger were from Columbus and were among the first in line at Gate 1 to enter the stadium. Daughters Lacey and Emma were hoping to meet their favorite players Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith before the match. They were on their first sports trip as mother and daughter playing for the Concord Fire.
“If I get to play for the U.S. Women's National Team, this will be a memory I can look back on,” Emma said.
Weiss said she highly values players like Alex Morgan as role models for her daughter. Morgan is her mother and one of the greatest players in U.S. history.
“When they see her with her daughter, they see that you're a mother, you're a woman, you've got it all,” she said. “You can make your dreams come true and have it all.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Not all of the fans came together just for America.
Clara Tsitas, a Brazilian student studying abroad at Brenau in Gainesville, was here with Liz Gonzalez to cheer on the Canarinhas, one of the nicknames for the Brazilian women's team. Danny Fujisawa traveled from Los Angeles to watch the Japanese women's players and his favorite Fuka Nagano play, but it was his first time in the United States.
Tetsu Honda and Ikue Yamada, who have come from Birmingham at least eight times to watch Atlanta United, came in a separate caravan to watch the Japanese men and women. Honda and Fujisawa are planning to go to the Paris Summer Games on their own to support Japan.
The SheBelieves Cup brought them together and gave the city a glimpse of what was to come. Tsitas, Gonzalez, Weiss and Ahtziger said they were already in talks to participate in Copa America and World Cup matches.
If anyone wants more soccer before the 2026 World Cup, including Saturday's two SheBelieves Cup matches, at least 21 soccer matches will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium by the end of the MLS season, with an estimated 100 Thousands of tickets will be distributed. These include two Copa America games (one with Argentina and one with the United States), a friendly between Chelsea and Club America this summer, two League Cup games, and Atlanta United's remaining 14 MLS games. is included.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Saturday was mainly about America.
It wasn't a complete housewarming for the team. At its new home, shovels will be in the ground Monday as part of the sweaty first steps in the construction of the U.S. Soccer Federation's new national training center and headquarters in Fayette County.
The opening match between Japan and the US was tied 1-1 at the end of the first half. Japan took a 1-0 lead with a goal from Kiko Seike 33 seconds into the game, spoiling the celebratory mood. Mallory Swanson, who is married to former Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, missed the shot in the 15th minute. Jadyn Shaw tied the score in the 21st minute with a shot from 22 yards. Lindsey Horan converted a penalty kick in the 77th minute to give the Americans a 2-1 lead.
The United States will play Canada in the final on Tuesday in Columbus. The game ended 1-1, and Canada defeated Brazil in the penalty shootout. Brazil and Japan will participate in a repechage match.
U.S. coach Twyla Kilgore and players from both teams praised the crowd and stadium after the game, with Crystal Dunn summarizing it in a very ATL way: “There's a certain atmosphere in Atlanta.”
Perhaps no one else appreciated it more than Marietta's Emily Sonnette, who came on as a second-half substitute and made her 89th appearance for the United States.
Sonnett estimated there were 30 friends and family members at the stadium watching the game, and he received the third loudest cheer, surpassed only by the reaction to the goal. It was her second time playing professionally in Atlanta.
“I think the real answer is electricity,” she said of the environment. “It was amazing. I think it's great to have it in my hometown and beat our record. So it's great for the sports community here and for the support of the team.”
There will be more to come.
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