Nike and US Soccer Announce New Innovation Lab in Atlanta

With the World Cup coming to the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, the age-old question of how to turn the US into a real soccer country has once again resurfaced, and thanks to Nike and US Soccer, there might be a new answer sitting just outside of Atlanta.

After helping the US National Soccer Team construct the National Training Center in Georgia, Nike and US Soccer are once again joining forces at the facility, this time in an effort to supercharge the country’s soccer talent at every level. Using the existing training center as a home base, Nike is introducing a new Sports Research Lab to add new focus to progression and data collection for US soccer players from youth to the pros.

“For thirty years, NIKE and U.S. Soccer have worked side-by-side to grow the game at every level, and the NTC is our next opportunity to continue being in service to soccer,” said U.S. Soccer Chief Commercial Officer David Wright. “The NTC is the home of soccer in America, and the NIKE Sport Research Lab is an instrumental part of building our foundation to more pathways and possibilities.”

In the announcement highlighting the innovation lab, Nike noted that the Atlanta-area complex is the “first-ever home for all 27 National Teams,” and that it would be the “central hub for coach and referee education, high-performance research, and community programming.” If you want to push the limits of soccer in the States, this is the place to be. For all the latest news on Nike’s sports science initiatives, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com