Atlanta United 2 and Academy shine in friendly vs Belize

I could sit here at the training ground and write out a typical match recap, and brush through the really good moments that some of the Atlanta United 2 and Academy players had in their match against the Belize national team. Instead, though, I think this is a really good time to give an overall update as to the state of Atlanta United 2, as they make a wild playoff push, and the Academy, which is just starting their collective set of seasons. Also, don’t let the 5-1 scoreline in favor of Atlanta negate the fact that Belize is a national team on the rise, with tons of promising young talent worth keeping an eye on in CONCACAF – but more on that later!

The 2’s are sitting on 31 points in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, and only two spots outside of the playoffs. However, they have a game in hand on the most immediate threats that sit directly above them and are playing some of the best football we’ve seen all year under Jose Silva‘s new guidance. For his part since Steve Cooke’s exit a couple of months ago, Jose Silva has immediately switched this team to a more free-flowing variation of a 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) with lots of interchange between the midfielders and wingers/wingbacks. It’s propelled the 2’s to a level we haven’t seen them play all season, an dit’s truly kept the season alive.

Meanwhile, the Academy is consistently pushing talent through the pipeline. Folks who may only pay attention to the first team have seen the likes of Jayden Hibbert, Luke Brennan, Jay Fortune, Dom Chong Qui, Will Reilly, Cooper Sanchez, and Matt Edwards all in this 2025 season, but their stories all have similar origins to the group we saw on the pitch today.

Coming off the annual Academy dinner at Mercedes-Benz Stadium just a few days ago, the squad that presented itself for the majority of minutes today displayed once again why the future is truly bright for Atlanta United. Just about every player had highlights, but a few certainly stood out. Ignacio Suarez, David Ilevbare, and Grayson Armistead all played far beyond their years, with Isaac Isaac, Amir Henry, and Arif Kovac putting in some outstanding shifts of their own. The squad counter pressed heavily and, despite the overall age difference, played with a physicality that’s a hallmark of Atlanta’s pipeline. Meanwhile, the 2’s veterans like Javier Armas and Rodrigo Neri kept the squad organized and disciplined throughout the first 60 minutes before giving way to a large contingent of mostly 2’s subs for the final 30.

Back on the Atlanta side – and reiterating how strong the talent is via the pipeline – be sure to go check out our exclusive with Javier Perez, Atlanta’s Director of Methodology. The Academy turns the page to early season matches starting this weekend, while the 2’s prepare to take on Carolina Core in a match that is the definition a six-pointer, as CCFC only sit two points and two spots ahead in the standings.

If you watched the match on Atlanta United’s Youtube, be sure to let us know below who you thought stood out!