Mercer University to host LAFC practices ahead of FIFA Club World Cup in Atlanta
County leaders say Macon will gain international exposure and economic impact as LAFC trains at Mercer University before the FIFA Club World Cup match in Atlanta.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mercer University has been selected as a training site for the Los Angeles Football Club ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in Atlanta this summer.
Mercer University, Visit Macon, and Macon-Bibb County held a news conference on Tuesday to make the announcement.
Mercer has been approved as a practice site for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will host matches in Atlanta. The city will welcome the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) as they train in Macon ahead of their first match against Chelsea Football Club on Monday, June 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mayor Miller also announced that Macon has been approved as a practice site for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, which will also include games in Atlanta. No team has yet been assigned to Macon for the 2026 tournament.
“We’re happy to lead the way!” Miller said. “We’re one of the few sites that’s been selected to host this fabulous event. It’s going to be a lot of money coming into Macon and exposure. We’re happy to show off to the whole world, our community here in Macon. This gives us a chance to be in that light and present Macon in a very big light, and we’re excited about that.”
Mercer University Athletic Director Jim Cole says he didn’t care much for this idea when it was brought to him, but now sees it as a competitive challenge and a testament to Mercer’s reputation, as well as strength of the Macon community looking forward to what’s ahead.
“It’s, once again, a point of pride” said Cole. “I think the whole Middle Georgia community has got to get behind this team. I think that’s going to be a lot about whether we get another team, possibly, is how Middle Georgia supports us. So every day, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, Albany, Atlanta, Chattanooga, they’re all competing against Macon. They don’t have this. Here’s one opportunity for all of us to get together, put it all together, show a team we support them, and beat some of our rival cities, and show them Macon’s on the on the move. You better move over here and get apart of it.”
Cole went onto speak about the thorough process they have to go through to be up to par with World Cup officials.
“I’m not going to give you the total figure, but it was seven figures to get that facility to World Cup standards, and I was very proud of our field before we started this process” said Cole. After their site visits, I really visited other sites that have had World Cup type facilities and quickly realized that our pitch was not up to World Cup standards. A World Cup representative is here three times a week, measuring the grass, taking temperatures, that’s how intense it is. We’ve learned a lot, but we’re very grateful.”
LAFC will face Chelsea FC at 3 p.m.
