“It was always a dream to come to the U.S.”
Born in Eschweiler, Germany and breathing the sport of soccer since he can remember, Kevin Kratz has always prided himself on his ambition. After spending much of his career in the Bundesliga 2 as well as the Bundesliga – Germany’s top division – Kratz was itching for a different experience, one that would take him across the world to the United States.
“What’s the goal I want to reach in my career? I want to go to the U.S. and play here.”
Kratz and his family moved to the United States in the fall of 2016 after signing with MLS side Philadelphia Union. It would only be a few weeks before he’d be traded to new expansion franchise Atlanta United.
“I came in right after the season ended so I had some time to get settled. My wife was pregnant at the time so we had another baby born in December. I was lucky that I came in early. I always try to do that so that I can focus fully on soccer and preseason.”
Moving to Atlanta without a clue as to what to expect, the German midfielder admits he’s been pleasantly overwhelmed by the kindness, the diversity and the unique culture that shapes the ATL.
“We enjoy the weather, we enjoy the people, they’re always so friendly.”
Not only relishing in the comfort of the city and its people, Kratz has been just as impressed with the unwavering soccer culture that has taken the league by storm. Leading MLS in attendance and selling out every match is something not many people could have expected, especially from someone from Germany, where soccer reigns as a religion and the attendance dominates globally.
While the sport may not be as popular in the States yet as it is in Europe, the city has truly rallied behind its team in Atlanta. And the numbers and the support prove it, both at home and on the road.
“There are a lot of Atlanta United fans out there who are really doing a great job to push us forward especially in home games. We already saw fans coming to away games. In Germany it’s normal. But here with the distance, flights, all this, that’s really impressive.”
Kratz raves about the game atmosphere to his friends and family supporting him back home in Germany. But he says the excitement on television pales in comparison to the experiencing the true magnitude of it all in person, especially the encouragement and positivity of the crowd.
“I had a couple friends here from Germany and they were really impressed by the atmosphere in Bobby Dodd Stadium. It’s loud and it’s supportive for the players. You don’t hear as many people yelling at you like you do in Germany.”
At ten years old he started with training at the Bayer Leverkusen Academy, 45 minutes away from his home. His parents to and from the stadium to attend every match. And to this day they never miss a moment even if it’s on TV, radio broadcast or even a live stream.
“They sacrificed a lot of their time to let me live my dream.”
Kratz credits Bayer Leverkusen for building the foundation of his career, but he sees the same roots here in Atlanta in the club’s attention to youth development. He says he’d love to give back and become a coach one day, passing his knowledge on to young minds in the United States or perhaps even at ATL UTD. But for now, he wants to remain inside the lines and continue contributing on the pitch.
“I want to play as long as I can. I started at three and a half years old, and I don’t want to quit at 30 or 31. I want to play as long as my legs keep going.”
Kratz’s future in the U.S. looks more and more likely as the German happily announced in August that he had obtained his U.S. Green Card, in addition to his wife and his two kids possessing U.S. Permanent Residency or Citizenship. A proud moment for a German player, who as a kid, could only foresee this as fantasy.
© 2026 Atlanta United FC
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