Ultimate Atlanta Soccer Map: Where to Play, Watch, Eat and Celebrate the Beautiful Game

By Mary Welch

Published June 3, 2026

Add Discover ATL as a preferred source on Google

In Atlanta, we have a soccer culture that lives, breathes, eats, dresses, games and plays soccer — oh yes and cheers our teams on from the stands.  What’s really amazing is that Atlanta’s professional soccer team, Atlanta United FC, came to town in 2017 to reinforce the soccer culture that had existed in Atlanta for years. Since then, a solid, growing, vocal and diverse soccer culture has evolved. And nine years later, Atlanta is one of 16 cities hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, a testament not only to the city but also to its soccer spirit. 

See why Atlanta is a soccer city.

The Soccer Map

To help the thousands of World Cup visitors and local soccer fans feel part of this community, the Atlanta Soccer Map was created to showcase the Atlanta soccer lifestyle, which goes beyond the games.  

The map is a way for people to learn about Atlanta’s soccer scene, including the large African, Caribbean and Hispanic diaspora communities that came together and became integral to it. “No one sat down and put everything together — where you can go to play, party, watch, shop, drink, listen to music,” said Gavin Guidry, a creative director for Wander Concepts, his design studio, who spearheaded the idea. “It’s in Cobb and Gwinnett counties, Clarkston, Forest Park. Lots of people are doing great things and this is a visual, tangible way to put it all together.” 

Unlike in other cities, the soccer culture in Atlanta isn’t built solely on play — whether that’s pickup, leagues, or an MLS team, said Guidry. “I’m glad I live in Atlanta because, if I were a fan elsewhere, I might not have been accepted into the world of soccer. I don’t play, but because I’m in Atlanta, I’m accepted into a community of people, many of whom are from immigrant cultures. The community is supported by fashion (including the creation of customized kits and sneakers), music, food and gaming. It’s a mixing of everything in a really cool way.” 

Because Atlanta is a city built on multiculturalism, its diverse soccer culture is reflected in the map, he said. “You can see the influences in the music, the food, the fashion and the parties at nightclubs. It’s like our tailgate parties where we play OutKast. Half of our Atlanta United chants are in Spanish. It’s all so accessible.” 

The Artist

The original idea for a whimsical, comprehensive soccer map came from a council of creative organizations called the Atlanta Arts Collective. To design the map, Guidry tapped artist Joseph Veazey, who was already on the city’s cultural map for creating the Atlanta Rap Map and the Atlanta Barbecue Map. Atlanta’s Rap Map raised thousands of dollars for charity and was acquired by the Library of Congress and a dozen university library collections nationwide. 

“I’m more of a basketball fan,” Veazey admitted, “but Gavin was so passionate, and the idea was interesting to me. All eyes will be on Atlanta, and thousands will be coming here, not knowing much about the city or culture. There will be a huge explosion of interest and curiosity about Atlanta and the games — including for those who live here — so this is a great opportunity to connect the dots.” 

The Places

The map not only tells you where to go to watch the games but also where to engage with the larger soccer community. For instance, suggested soccer bars include The Brewhouse Cafe and Hudson Grille, both in Little Five Points, Wicked Wolf in Midtown and Brick Store Pub in Decatur. Want a Mexican sports bar? Head out to La Casa Sport Bar on Buford Highway or El Patron Sport Bar & Grill in Chamblee Dunwoody. 

For pickup soccer and league play, try the Silverback Stadium and Piedmont Park.

Want soccer-inspired clothes? Head on down to Rare and Retro Soccer of Atlanta, Rosales Sports and others.

Not-to-miss murals can be found in Castleberry with the Josef Mural, a World Cup-inspired mural at StationSoccer East Point, and Atlanta United’s Kings Become Legends mural. 

“None of the places or businesses on the map paid to be on it,” Guidry said. “That’s really important. We included these places because trusted people — players, creators, fans — chimed in about them. There are some places that I’ve not only not been to but I haven’t even heard of!”. 

The Process

Veazey hasn’t counted the number of places on the map (he promises he will!) but guesses anywhere between 50 and 100. As a graphic designer-illustrator, he took the research Guidry gave him and then plotted out the locations using Google Maps and graphic design software. “I laid it all out and then looked for any gaps or extra space, which gave me an opportunity to call something out or put something cool-looking in there that helps explain something,” Veazey said. 

The color scheme is vital, featuring green prominently to represent the soccer field and grass; red and black are also prominent, a nod to the Atlanta United kit. “It’s also important to know that the entire map was hand-illustrated, hand-drawn by me,” Veazey said. “It took about two months, but there is no AI involved. It’s real.” 

Both Veazey and Guidry hope the map evolves over time, with new places added, keeping it a living document. It will be available in various stores, possibly bars, special events and other locations, including veazeystudio.com. The map is also featured in the Commemorative Discover Atlanta Now issue for Summer 2026, available across Atlanta hotels.

“This map will be here for the city forever,” Guidry said. “We want it to be not only a guide for different people to engage with the city during the World Cup, but also for insiders to engage. We want visitors to come here because of the World Cup and will want to stay or come back because of the cultural scene we have.”  

Prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta.

Mary Welch is an award-winning writer who has reported on the maturity off Atlanta’s culinary and hospitality scene as well as its growth as a sophisticated international city. Her byline has been seen in local and national outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Travelgirl, Global Atlanta, and American Lawyer covering topics such as travel, business, cars, law, hospitality and education. She co-authored a book with Chuck Leavell, the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and a Georgia tree farmer, on the future of the American forest.