Founded in 2015, South Georgia Tormenta FC has enjoyed many successful years competing in pre-profesional and professional leagues, but what will the club look like in 2026?
We sat down with current USL League One Head Coach Ian Cameron to discuss the growth of the game across the region and in the United States.
Founded in 2015, South Georgia Tormenta FC has enjoyed many successful years competing in pre-profesional and professional leagues, but what will the club look like in 2026?
We sat down with current USL League One Head Coach Ian Cameron to discuss the growth of the game across the region and in the United States.
I remember when I first came to Georgia in 2007 and helped run soccer camps, the kids' familiarity with professional soccer was slim. Fast forward to today and the awareness and connection with the professional game from regional youth has taken a paradigm shift. The inception of Atlanta United awoke the consciousness of soccer fans in Georgia, and our club has given South Georgia a team to be really proud of. Sports should have a grassroots connection to their communities. As more professional clubs emerge, their respective communities will become more invested in not only their clubs but the sport in general.
I remember when I first came to Georgia in 2007 and helped run soccer camps, the kids’ familiarity with professional soccer was slim. Fast forward to today and the awareness and connection with the professional game from regional youth has taken a paradigm shift. The inception of Atlanta United awoke the consciousness of soccer fans in Georgia, and our club has given South Georgia a team to be really proud of. Sports should have a grassroots connection to their communities. As more professional clubs emerge, their respective communities will become more invested in not only their clubs but the sport in general.
Our purpose as a staff is to put a product on the field that connects with our communities. Stylistically, we'll be blue-collared and daring, but nothing resonates better than seeing locally-developed talent gracing the field alongside outsourced talents. We need to make soccer fun to be a part of, whether that's with the USL League One team or with the U8 teams having their first experience of the sport. Tormenta endeavors to make our games more than a sporting event, it's entertainment. We hope that someone new to soccer could come and enjoy the spectacle stripped of understanding tactics or players.
Our purpose as a staff is to put a product on the field that connects with our communities. Stylistically, we’ll be blue-collared and daring, but nothing resonates better than seeing locally-developed talent gracing the field alongside outsourced talents. We need to make soccer fun to be a part of, whether that’s with the USL League One team or with the U8 teams having their first experience of the sport. Tormenta endeavors to make our games more than a sporting event, it’s entertainment. We hope that someone new to soccer could come and enjoy the spectacle stripped of understanding tactics or players.
American culture has been built on the mindset of striving to be the best. So, bringing the most elite level soccer contest available to our doorstep is going to attract not only the soccer audience but also a wider interest level. Every country that hosts the World Cup witnesses a surge in interest beyond the event itself, which we can't wait to watch and be part of. I'm optimistic that the U.S. National Team will also perform really well. The young generation of U.S. soccer players coming through is littered with talent and the sky's the limit for this group. Whether they can contend to win the 2026 World Cup is hard to judge, but I'm sure we'll witness a new brand of U.S. Soccer that matches the technical proficiency of other elite nations.
American culture has been built on the mindset of striving to be the best. So, bringing the most elite level soccer contest available to our doorstep is going to attract not only the soccer audience but also a wider interest level. Every country that hosts the World Cup witnesses a surge in interest beyond the event itself, which we can’t wait to watch and be part of. I’m optimistic that the U.S. National Team will also perform really well. The young generation of U.S. soccer players coming through is littered with talent and the sky’s the limit for this group. Whether they can contend to win the 2026 World Cup is hard to judge, but I’m sure we’ll witness a new brand of U.S. Soccer that matches the technical proficiency of other elite nations.
2026 should come with a stadium and silverware exhibited inside. Tormenta should symbolize the pride of the city and our youth academy should be the gold standard in the development and nurturement of young athletes.
2026 should come with a stadium and silverware exhibited inside. Tormenta should symbolize the pride of the city and our youth academy should be the gold standard in the development and nurturement of young athletes.
