Marietta, GA – During training on the morning of Tuesday, Mar. 3, Atlanta United defender Matt Edwards didn’t just go through the motions. He’s a starter at right back, at least for the moment, and he takes training as seriously as any other player on the team, if not more so. He has been waiting for this day since he began playing soccer as a little kid.
Now a starter for what is, at least on paper, one of the best teams in Major League Soccer, Edwards is preparing to play three of the team’s next four matches in front of a home crowd that is thirsty for trophies. He knows every moment in front of the Five Stripes supporters at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a unique slice of time that he has to cherish.
In Charlotte, on Saturday, Mar. 1, Edwards started his second straight match and more than held his own against Charlotte FC and former English Premier League striker Wilfred Zaya, particularly during the first half. The two even went nose-to-nose during one exchange when Edwards made a play on a Charlotte pass to Zaha.
On that exchange with Zaya, Edwards said he wanted to make sure Zaha knew he wasn’t playing against “a kid.”
Through two matches Edwards has played 162 minutes, including all 90 in the season opener against CF Montreal on Feb. 22 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Edwards comes from a sports family. His mother Melissa ran track at Georgia Tech; sisters Gabby and Alexandria ran track at the collegiate level at UNC Wilmington and Barton College (Wilson, N.C.), respectively. His brother Nate also got in on the act, playing baseball for the Hurricanes of Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina.
Edwards started playing soccer at the ripe old age of three years old. As he grew up, he might have had an idea of what he wanted to become, but being a starting right back in Major League Soccer some 19 years later has him already checking items off his goals (no pun intended) list.
“I want to try to start and be involved in as many games as I can,” answered Edwards when asked about some of his personal goals for the 2025 season.
He has another big personal goal for this season as well. Last year on June 21, Edwards was signed to a Homegrown contract through the 2025 season.
“At the end of the year getting a contract to stay for the next year. That’s what I am working towards,” he said.
Edwards, who also wants to total five assists this season, said trying to stay present in the moments as they come has also been a major goal of his. The start in Charlotte allowed family and friends to come out to see him play in his home state. He had never played against Charlotte before, even as an Atlanta United Academy player, last Saturday, so he experienced another moment in his very young career.
“It was nice to play back in my hometown. It was nice to be in Charlotte,” Edwards said. “A lot of people were there.”
His parents, who were amongst the crowd of supporters in Charlotte, also wanted Edwards’s future to involve academic pursuits. He is currently studying to complete his degree in economics. After playing college soccer at the University of North Carolina from 2021-2023, he is on track to accomplish that goal. Edwards told The Atlanta Voice that he wants to begin a career in the corporate world when he’s done with soccer.
“I’m still in school. After all that is done I’ll try to go into finance or banking,” Edwards said.
“All that” is a soccer career that is rising fast. With several defenders injured at the moment, Edwards looks to be the answer at right back for Atlanta United manager Ronny Deila.
Being able to jump from Atlanta United 2 to training camp with the big club to preseason to starting in big games, Edwards said, has been an adjustment, but one that he is prepared for. Edwards credited his time playing for the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill as a key step in his preparation.
“It helped me a lot. College is different, it’s more physical and that helped me transition into the pro role,” Edwards said, adding that Major League Soccer is a very physical league.
Before he decided to dedicate his athletic life to the beautiful game, he played other sports, such as basketball, which also helped prepare him in other ways, he said.
“I played basketball, but that was because my dad wanted me to,” Edwards said. “I played AAU for a year, but I stayed with soccer.”
He said those other athletic pursuits helped him be better prepared for the rigors and strategy that is necessary to play defender for a Major League Soccer club.
“For sure. Every sport is different with different tactics, but just being a competitor in different sports helps you appreciate your sport, and helps push you to improve,” Edwards said.
And Edwards is improving quickly, according to Deila, who after the match had good things to say about Edwards’s play during the first half of the loss at Charlotte.
Asked how his family feels about his playing soccer on the highest level in this country, Edwards said they were proud.
“They try to show out all the time,” said Edwards, a smile creeping across his face. “You know how Black families are, they try to be there and be loud, but It’s important for them and for me to keep level-headed and just keep going.”
Personal goals aside, Edwards said he wants to accomplish several team goals that he feels are paramount to Atlanta United having a successful 2025 season. Edwards says he wants the Five Stripes to finish among the top four teams in the East so they have the best opportunity to win a second MLS title.
Asked about living his dream, Edwards smiled.
“It feels good. There’s a little bit of pressure with it, the team this year is supposed to be good, so there’s a lot of pressure with each game,” he said. “I don’t view it so much as pressure though, I view it as a chance and an opportunity. Just take it.”