Atlanta Is Hosting a World Cup Semi-Final. Atlanta United Is 14th.

Atlanta is about to become the center of the global soccer universe. A World Cup semi-final. Spain. Eight matches at that stadium on the bridge. The whole thing.

Atlanta United is 14th out of 15 in the East.

Sit with that for a second.

This city has never hosted a World Cup before. Not 1994. Not ever. June 15 through July 15, it's happening for the first time — and the biggest stage the sport has ever given this city will be filled with fans who watched their club go 3-9-2 in 14 games.

I'm 82% sure more Atlantans can name Spain's starting XI than Atlanta United's current back four.

That's not an insult to Atlanta. That's an indictment of a club that is squandering the most favorable soccer environment in North America. The fans are still there — 37,627 a night, best attendance in MLS. They are not the problem. They never were. They show up regardless. The team is 22 points behind Nashville in the same number of games.

Twenty-two points. Same games played. Nashville.

Atlanta returns from the World Cup hiatus on July 17. Away at Nashville. Same Nashville sitting at 33 points while United limps into the break with 11.

The city gets a semi-final. The club gets a reckoning.

Tell me I'm wrong.