Preseason Preview: Memphis 901 FC @ Atlanta United

Memphis 901 FC has been having quite the off-season. In their preparations for their sixth season in the USL Championship, the team has been incredibly busy. They have hired a new COO in Jay Mims. They were able to retain ten key players from last season’s team that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and hosted a home playoff game. A pair of defenders with MLS (Abdoulaye Cissoko) and European (Walid Yacoubou) experience have been brought in. They have made a number of attacking additions, none bigger than the signing of Neco Brett from the Birmingham Legion. Now they are about to get their first idea how those moves have paid off as 901 FC gets set for their first game of the preseason. And what better way to kick things off than on the road against Atlanta United of MLS?

Saturday may be the first game of the preseason for 901 FC, but it’s far from the only one. The team has put together a very robust preseason schedule that will see the Beale Street Boys test themselves against two MLS squads, two college teams, and an MLS Next Pro team.

And with the game being on the road, it seems fitting that 901 FC released their 2024 away kits on Friday afternoon.

Saturday, of course, is not the first time that Memphis 901 FC and Atlanta United have faced off against each other. In 2023, the two teams met in the third round of the US Open Cup (and like this preseason game, on a college campus rather than at Atlanta United’s home venue, Mercedes-Benz Stadium). That game saw Atlanta United go ahead early on, only for Philip Goodrum of 901 FC to tie it with the last kick of the 90 minutes. That set the stage for Nighte Pickering to score the game winner in extra-time and seal one of the biggest wins in Memphis 901 FC history.

Atlanta United has proven quite willing, in their eight years of existence, to play lower division teams from around the southeastern United States as part of their preseason preparations. They have also frequently been willing to go on the road for these games, including to Chattanooga and Birmingham. No doubt that many 901 FC fans will be hoping for a return trip to Memphis from the Five Stripes for preseason action in 2025.

The regular season will begin in earnest for 901 FC at 3pm on Saturday, March 9 down at AutoZone Park against the Las Vegas Lights. They then have a second home game one week later on Saturday, March 16 at AutoZone Park against Indy Eleven, though the kickoff time for that game has yet to be determined. Season tickets for all 2024 home games are currently on sale and information regarding when single game tickets will be available for purchase should be released soon.

When, Where

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024

Venue: Turner Soccer Stadium

City: Athens, Georgia

Time: 2pm CT

TV: https://www.atlutd.com/live/

Next Game

Date: Saturday, February 10

Competition: Preseason

Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC @ Christian Brothers University

Venue: Signaigo Field

City: Memphis, Tennessee

Time: TBD

TV: TBD

Tickets: TBD