Anyone who’s into soccer knows the energy around the sport is not just about any one game, tournament or team – it’s about the culture and community. And there’s perhaps no platform that captures this better than Toma el Juego, Nike’s youth-led street soccer platform designed to unleash the joy and creativity of the game through neighbourhood tournament play and local experiences. Since launching in Los Angeles in June 2025, Toma has taken over Seoul, Mexico City, Santiago, Lima and more. 

Last Wednesday night, April 1, Atlanta’s top ballers gathered for a night of street soccer at the Toma Atlanta Soccer Finals and, as someone yelled from the stage at The Eastern, people in Atlanta turned “all the way up”. For one night only, the multi-floor music venue was transformed into a soccer fans’ paradise. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Toma event, which has been to LA and Miami, and continues to expand.

THE TOURNAMENT WAS PURE MAYHEM

Forget the polite formalities of professional soccer. Toma Atlanta kicked off with Yosa and Bria laying down the law: high stakes, fast pace and plenty of fun. The “Winner Stays” format turned the event venue into a gladiator arena. One minute, Mia Corona was officiating a lightning-fast girls’ match; the next, the boys were battling for dominance in a series of knockouts that felt more like a street fight than a drill. Star forward and previous USMNT captain, Clint Dempsey, kicked off the boys’ final, and WNBA star Caitlin Clark even stepped out to start the final girls’ match: the 1v1 Gauntlet. The energy was frantic, sweaty and visceral – and everyone in the crowd was hooked. 

SOCCER HAS NEVER SOUNDED BETTER

Toma is all about the culture, so I knew the music would be good – but Toma Atlanta was next level. The scene was set with DJ EU’s trap-heavy set, so that by the time the doors officially swung open at 6.30pm, the line was down the street, and the room was a sea of red light and anticipation. Then, DJ Von shifted the mood, before Travis Scott stopped by to say hello (wild card mentality). And the surprises continued well into the night, with performances from SoFaygo and Atlanta’s own 21 Savage (who also kicked off the men’s final), before DJ Von brought the house down.

A MOMENT FOR SHOPPING

Sure, there was music and sports royalty in the building, but in line with the core of Toma’s mission, there were also plenty of local legends. Notably, there was an entire section dedicated to shopping from local designers. One of these was Khalfani “Fani” Dennis, whose brand Fani is known for its iconic bandanas. “There’s a lot of energy coming from around the world with the World Cup being here this year, so I’m super grateful to be highlighted tonight,” Dennis told us pre-games. “Toma streets to street style in soccer, and I’m one with the streets, the people.” Naturally, there were Nike Toma x Fani hoodies and bandanas available on site. Also, a jersey customisation station with Dick’s Sporting Goods and a wall filled with the brand new Air Max Family Reunion collection.

YOUR CITY COULD BE NEXT

Toma Atlanta was a moment that kick-started the spirit of 2026 and a new season of Toma el Juego. This year, Nike is gearing up to bring Toma to the most diverse and expressive soccer cities worldwide, with one singular mission: to spotlight the best street ballers on earth. Tom will be expanding to six continents and over 20 cities, where athletes and teams can qualify for a series of epic finals in Summer 2026. To find out more about where’s next, head to Nike Toma.