FC Motagua vs. Atlanta United first leg will be played at Honduran national stadium

Atlanta United is set to play its first competitive match of the season February 18th on the road against FC Motagua in the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16. But opposed to the original plan for the first leg to be played in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, Atlanta United is confirming that Motagua will now host at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula instead of its own home stadium.

Estadio Olimpico has been the home venue for the Honduran National Team since the late 90s. It’s the same venue where the Seattle Sounders will play Olimpia in their own CCL matchup, but the Atlanta - Motagua matchup will take place two days prior.

Motagua’s Chief Financial Officer Juan Carlos Suazo said that his team’s home ground, Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, has not made the necessary renovations to meet eligibility requirements to host the game.

Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, located close to the country’s southern border in Tegucigalpa, is located roughly 150 miles away from San Pedro Sula, which is close to the northern border.

Supporters planning to travel to the match are asked to practice extreme caution. San Pedro Sula is regrettably well-known for it’s high homicide rate that was the worst in the world as recently as 2013. That figure has dropped considerably since, but any visitors are advised to travel in groups at all times.