This is America. And this is American football. But not in the usual sense.

Atlanta United are the club to watch in the world, because they have done something no other MLS side have achieved. They have captured the heart of a city.

And given the World Cup will be part hosted by the United States in 2026, Atlanta can be seen as the end point of a long journey for the sport across the pond.

Atlanta United marked just their second season in Major League Soccer by claiming the title

Thousands of supporters joined in a victory parade on the streets of Atlanta on Monday

Atlanta United have captured the heart of the city despite only being formed 18 months ago

Jubilant Atlanta supporters in a huge crowd of 73,000 celebrate their championship triumph

On Monday morning, over 100,000 people turned out in Atlanta to celebrate their MLS Cup win. Their final against the Portland Timbers at the weekend was attended by more people than the last four Super Bowls.

The club has only existed for around 18 months but that does not matter. In a city of broken sporting dreams, they have found a home.

Monday morning's level of celebration would have seemed impossible when the US last hosted a World Cup in 1994, when Diana Ross missed her penalty and MLS was just starting up.

Now Atlanta might be providing a message for teams on their own continent and around the world. It is quite simple - if you focus on fans, they will come.

'When Mercedes-Benz Stadium was being designed, we thought it was going to be the lower bowl for soccer, so 29,000,' Atlanta's president Darren Eales told Sportsmail. 'We thought that was quite aggressive!

They defeated Portland Timbers 2-0 in the Championship game in Atlanta on December 8

Thousands of delighted fans packed the streets of the city with the squad on an open-top bus

The stadium's enormous 360-degree screens announce Atalanta's second goal in the final

Atlanta president Darren Eales (pictured) says the club make all decisions to benefit fans

'This year we're averaging just over 55,000, so 14th in the world. We've just gone ahead of Manchester City's average crowd, PSG, Chelsea, the Milan sides… their great history, and we're doing that. Incredible.

'I look back at my first year. If we write a book we'll call it Pub Crawl Your Way to Success.

'We went wherever soccer fans are congregating, whether that's fans on a Saturday morning watching the Premier League or the national team, we were trying to build that club culture so we had a connection with our fanbase.'

It has paid off. They may average over 55,000 but the 70,000 barrier has been broken eight times at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for soccer games. Their win on Saturday was watched by 73,019.

Atlanta players and staff race onto the field to celebrate victory at the final whistle

The 'Terminus Legion' supporter group led the victory parade, singing songs and waving flags

Atlanta owner Arthur Blank - affectionately known as 'Uncle Arthur' - addresses the crowds

On Saturday, the go to place to buy sports jerseys online in America, Fanatics.com, saw a significant statistic. Josef Martinez, an Atlanta United player, became the first No 1 selling MLS player ever on a day.

He beat out the likes of Steph Curry, LeBron James and Odell Beckham, and, in fact every sports star across the NFL, the NBA, Major League Baseball, and the NHL.

Arthur Blank, Atlanta United's owner, has shared his experiences running the Atlanta Falcons and they have paid off. He spent $60million on a training facility for the players and brought in Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, formerly of Barcelona and Argentina, to be the manager.

They have also brought in players on the rise rather than the wane, like Martinez and Miguel Almiron, who is now coveted by Arsenal and Newcastle.

Almost as importantly, they dropped food prices by 50 per cent around the stadium and revenues increased by 16 per cent. Compare their $5 pint of beer to a trip to the bar at the StubHub Centre, where LA Galaxy play, where one can set you back over $11.

That is an obvious way to win the hearts of fans, but Atlanta have taken financial hits to ensure the supporter comes first. Eales thinks there is something to be learned from it in the Premier League.

Josef Martinez scored the first goal and set up the second as he was named MVP of the final

Every vantage point was taken as fans braved chilly temperatures to salute their team

It is just Atlanta's second season in MLS and they look like being a major force going forward

'Every decision we make is through the prism of how do we help the supporter,' he continues.

'We have a capo stand at Atlanta and that's someone who helps the chants to start on a platform.

'We had it at our temporary stadium and we knew we needed it at Mercedes-Benz Stadium but we'd already sold two suites. We had to buy them back to put that there.

'It was the obvious thing needed for fan experience and we didn't think twice about it.

'There's a sense in other countries, including England, that you can take supporters for granted.

Martinez rounds Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to score Atlanta's opening goal on Saturday

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium was packed to the rafters for the occasion as Atlanta won

Atlanta's triumph was especially impressive as this was just their second season in MLS

'The clubs have been around for over 100 years, because of family ties, and the media rights value is so high, there's perhaps not necessarily the focus on supporter experience and engagement.

'We cannot dismiss that here because we're building a club from scratch.'

They've gone to everyone to build that club. There's no working class tradition around soccer in America like there is in the United Kingdom. Champions are not forged on terraced streets around football grounds. It has long been viewed as a middle class sport.

Atlanta are trying to change that and engage with a segment of the country that has long been unrepresented on the pitch.

It was the city's first sporting triumph since the Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 1995

Martinez hands the trophy to team-mate Michael Pankhurst during a memorable parade

Happy supporters line the streets as the open-top bus drives past during Monday's parade

'Kids were getting priced out of the game,' Eales said. 'We have the equivalent of the underground in Atlanta called the MARTA. We had dead space in a station in the centre of downtown and we built a soccer pitch there. It's accessible.

'We have now opened at another station and we're looking to do 10 across the network and that gives kids a place to play. They don't have an economic barrier to entry.'

Saturday was the first time that any team from Atlanta has won a title since 1995. If a team from Liverpool won the UK's basketball championship, it would not be celebrated in the same way as Jurgen Klopp's side winning the league.

But Atlanta United are legitimate. The city at large spoke about their sporting curse ahead of the final, because, frankly, this actually counted.

Club owner Blank wears goggles as he is doused with beer inside the changing room

The bus carrying the Atlanta United players drives past their Mercedes-Benz Stadium

A giant replica of the MLS Cup led the procession as thousands braved chilly temperatures

This is no passing phase. Atlanta are at the forefront of a genuine step in the evolution of the game in America.

'This is a sport that attracts that younger demographic. It's a sport for a new America,' Eales adds.

'I played over here in the States 25 years ago, when you were lucky to get tens of people coming to see you.

'People have always been saying that this is the sport of the future. But there is no doubt that it will be one of the top leagues in the world sooner rather than later.'