Atlanta Is a Soccer City for Exactly One Afternoon

Atlanta is spending $16.7 million on three designated players for 14th place in the East. Today that same building hosts England vs. Argentina for $2,527 a seat.

Let that sink in.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium — sorry, "Atlanta Stadium," because FIFA made you take your own name off your own building — will hold 75,000 for a World Cup semifinal this afternoon. Bellingham vs. Messi. The biggest match on the planet.

Tomorrow it goes back to being home to Miguel Almiron's $7.87 million salary. Zero goals. Three assists.

Fifth-highest-paid player in MLS. That's $2.6 million per assist. For 14th place.

Atlanta United's DP payroll is second in MLS behind Inter Miami. Eleven teams get more production for less money.

The last match before the World Cup break? A 2-0 loss to Columbus. Tata Martino won MLS Cup in this exact building in 2018 — they brought him back for this.

The city is calling today a "soccer moment." It's a mirror. The world's most expensive semifinal is happening in a stadium where the home team can't crack the top 10 in its own conference.

I'm 91% sure — up from 86% last month — that Atlanta loves soccer the way it loves the Super Bowl. As an event. Not a commitment.

The season resumes Friday. Prove me wrong.