When you think of the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States, politics might come to mind. But in the world of football, that bond is stronger than ever—and it's helping shape the future of the beautiful game across the Atlantic.
US Soccer has just unveiled its stunning new $228 million national training centre outside Atlanta, and they're giving a big assist to the FA. The 200-acre Arthur M. Blank Training Complex opens this week, and US Soccer CEO JT Batson is quick to credit England's influence.
"Think of it as St George's Park, but slightly bigger and obviously newer," Batson told BBC Sport, referencing the FA's Staffordshire base that opened in 2012 and has been a game-changer for England's national teams.
US Soccer officials visited St George's Park during their planning phase, studying everything from layout to culture. The result? A state-of-the-art facility that will host the US men's national team for pre-World Cup camps and serve as a permanent home for American soccer.
"The FA have been incredible partners in helping us learn from what works well in England," said Batson. "That factored into our thinking around building a national centre, as well as designing what we've called the 'US Way'—our strategy for sporting success."
The timing couldn't be better. With the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico on the horizon, this facility represents a major investment in the sport's future. Batson acknowledges the challenge of uniting such a vast country: "The US is different. We're really big, both geographically and in numbers of people. Having a home for soccer in America for the first time is going to be transformative."
Much of the credit goes to former US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker, the Welshman who previously headed up teams at St George's Park. Before departing last month for a role with the Saudi Arabia football federation, Crocker made bold moves—appointing Mauricio Pochettino and Emma Hayes to lead the US men's and women's senior teams respectively.
"Matt and his team have done an incredible job of taking us from where we were to where we are now from a strategy standpoint," Batson added. "That gives us the foundation to carry forward."
For fans who love the game's heritage, it's a reminder that even as soccer grows in America, the sport's roots still run deep through England. And for anyone who's ever pulled on a jersey and dreamed big, this new home is proof that the world's game keeps getting closer—one pitch at a time.