With the long-awaited start of the 2023-24 European soccer season finally under way, many people in the United States, and especially Atlanta once again begin to support their favorite teams from around the world. Atlanta is a premier soccer haven in the United States with an incredibly large and diverse population, and North Atlanta High School is no different. While walking the halls, jerseys from all over can be seen being sported with pride. From the big dogs like Manchester United and Arsenal to the lesser-known clubs like Everton, the NAHS population is looking to support their squads whenever they can.
Junior Hassan Jasseh has always been in love with soccer as he started playing the sport as soon as he was able to run. With no team in Atlanta at the time, Jasseh needed a team to support, so he turned to England and the world’s most popular league, the Premier League. He quickly found a home with English giants, Manchester United. Located in Manchester, the Red Devils are known all over the world for their national and continental dominance. Jasseh quickly fell in love with this domination and winning culture. In addition to this winning culture, Jasseh loves the passion and the love the fans have for the Club. “I felt at home with the club instantly and the fans were super inclusive and open-minded. It really made me feel wanted and I have loved every minute since,” said Jasseh.
For some, this passion for a team spans generations. Senior Jackson Mongomery has always been a diehard Arsenal fan. The Gunners (Arsenal) are another English team, located in London, and they are extremely rich in history, including one famous year that saw them go unbeaten through all 38 regular season games. Montgomery loves the Gunners because of his dad’s love for the squad. Montgomery is originally from Denver, Colorado, and supports their local soccer club, the Colorado Rapids. The owners of this successful MLS team are also owners of Arsenal. This coincidence was perfect for Montgomery as now he has a team to cheer for all year around at home and abroad. “I love watching Gunners games with my dad,” said Montgomery, “It’s always super hype in our house whenever Arsenal wins.”
Adam Nelson is an IB history and AP human geography teacher at North Atlanta. He is a former college soccer player at the University of South Carolina. While in college, Nelson needed a team to support and began watching games with his friends. He knew he wanted to pick a team that not everyone supported, and he wanted to pick a team where he knew the fans would support the club no matter how good or bad the club was. After watching a few games, he landed on Everton, a club located in Liverpool. Everything about the club appealed to his senses as he quickly found a home among the Toffees faithful. “I fell in love with the passion and style of play of the club,” said Nelson, “I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat any time I watched them play.”
As the season moves on, the Dubs faithful will continue to show up and show out for whatever side they support. As the 2026 World Cup in the US continues to come nearer, the love for the beautiful game only grows stronger.
