Muna Ahmed’s story is the story of modern Atlanta, a diverse city of transplants that have fallen in love with the capital of the south. She and her family were refugees from Ethiopa, forced from their country by violence. She moved to Atlanta when she was just three years old, and she immersed herself in the culture right away.
“Even though I live on the outskirts, I always try to find a way to come to the city,” Muna says.
“Anything that has to do with the city, I’m in.”
That includes Atlanta United.
“My family loves soccer, it’s such a universal sport. When I heard about the team, I thought about how Atlanta was expanding and I got really excited.”
On top of being an ATLien and soccer fan to her core, Muna is also a two-time cancer survivor at just 20 years old. But her energy, passion and commitment to giving back to people in similar situations has connected her to the club forever. When a group of players paid a visit to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital, they were inspired right away.
“I heard the players were coming and I said, ‘Oh man I have to go down and meet them.’ The team gave us shirts to decorate, and there was a little girl there. She was so sad, because she though she ruined her shirt because it didn’t come out how she wanted to. I was going to go meet the players but I saw her sad so I was helping her fix her shirt.”
Her attitude drew attention of team staff and her artistic ability blew them away. She made a logo for the team’s Unite & Conquer Cancer campaign as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and has grown into a leader for the club’s childhood cancer outreach and awareness program.
“I told them about my journey through cancer and how to make it better for kids through things like our survival squad program."
"They took my idea and made it real. I helped launched childhood cancer awareness for the club.”
Muna has given Atlanta United a role model for young kids in their outreach programs. And in turn, Atlanta United has given Muna a platform to follow her passion of helping kids who need it most.
“You’re at the age where you’re still learning about yourself and things hit you differently than when you’re an adult."
"When you’re a kid and you’re going through treatment, your friends don’t know what to do. Sometimes they stop communicating with you and you start losing friends and you start getting depressed. When I relapsed, I saw it happening with some of the younger kids at the hospital. I didn’t want them to think that no one knew what they were going through."
"I wanted them to know that even though they feel like no one understands or their friends don’t know what to say to you, I know. I know that it’s not forever. I know it’s normal to feel this way but you can overcome it.”
In the end, Muna’s long-term vision is to do whatever she can to end childhood cancer. She’s committed to that goal. But in the meantime, she’s focused on giving kids the tools to fight their own fight.
“The short-term goal is basically conquering. It’s like a barking dog on the other side of the fence. It sounds loud and scary, but I want kids to see it’s not that scary and we can definitely overcome it."
"No matter how scary things seem, no matter hurt or terrified you are that you can do it. I just want them to say cancer definitely can’t touch me, I can definitely do this. I want them to have the confidence to go into battle. If I’ve given them that, I’ve done my part.”
© 2026 Atlanta United FC
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