Major League Soccer today announced the full, 34-match schedules for all 30 clubs ahead of the 2026 regular season.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to five MLS stadiums next summer, including Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a large number of players across the league expected to represent some of the 48 participating nations, the league will take a nearly two-month break in the middle of the season. This obviously means that some parts of the latter half of the season will be pushed back further than usual to accommodate.
MLS has also announced that fans will no longer need a separate MLS Season Pass subscription to view the 510 regular season matches plus all MLS Cup Playoff games, studio programs, and various content. Instead, they will be able to enjoy all of the league’s action with an Apple TV subscription, which will be included in full-season ticket packages.
Before diving into some of the highlights of Atlanta United’s 2026 calendar, here are some important dates on the league calendar.
Key MLS Dates
- Opening Weekend: Feb. 21-22
- FIFA World Cup break: May 25 – July 16
- MLS resumes: July 16-17
- 2026 MLS All-Star Game: July 29
- Decision Day: Nov. 7
Major games on Atlanta United’s schedule
Season opener: Feb. 21 at FC Cincinnati (4:30 pm ET)
The Five Stripes kick off their 2026 campaign on the road at TQL Stadium, where they’ll face FC Cincinnati. The Orange and Blue have been a perennial playoff team and contender since 2023, when they won the Supporters’ Shield with stars like Luciano Acosta and former Atlanta United striker Brandon Vázquez.
While the names have changed, the competitive level remains the same. Led by Evander (18g/13a) and club record signing Kévin Denkey (16g/1a), FC Cincinnati is preparing to face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Atlanta dominates the series against Cincy with a 6-4-6 record, most recently adding a 4-2 win over the Ohio side in May.
Home opener: March 7 vs. Real Salt Lake (7:30 pm ET)
Atlanta United will host Real Salt Lake in its first home game of the season. This will be Tata Martino’s first time coaching the Five Stripes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since the 2018 MLS Cup Final, and a chance for the 17s to give him a warm welcome back.
Atlanta leads the all-time series against the Claret and Cobalt with a 3-2-0 record, and boasts a perfect 2-0-0 record against them at home.
In 2025, RSL was led by USMNT midfielder Diego Luna (9g/7a) and former Benfica attacker Diogo Gonçalves (4g/5a). The team finished 9th in the Western Conference with 41 points and a 12-17-5 record before falling 3-1 to the Portland Timbers in the Wild Card game.
First match post World Cup: July 17 at Nashville SC (8 pm ET)
After a lengthy break for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, Atlanta United visits its northern neighbor, Nashville SC, for what should be a high-profile rivalry matchup.
The Coyotes carry a narrow lead in the all-time series with a 5-4-5 record, but the Five Stripes emerged victorious from its last visit to GEODIS Park thanks to a Ronald Hernández header.
After a breakout year from English striker Sam Surridge (24g/5a) and comparable production from 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar (16g/12a), Nashville bounced back big time from last year’s failure to make the playoffs. Head Coach BJ Callaghan, in his first year, led the club to the US Open Cup title, the club’s first major trophy, and a postseason appearance.
Tata returns to Miami: Sept. 5 at Inter Miami CF (7:30 pm ET)
When Atlanta United visits Inter Miami’s new home, Miami Freedom Park, for the first time next fall, Head Coach Tata Martino will face the team that he led to a record-breaking season in 2024.
The Argentinian manager commanded a roster full of stars, like Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, to win that year’s Supporters’ Shield while setting a record for points earned in an MLS regular season (74).
Now, the Herons are led by Javier Mascherano, whom Martino coached at FC Barcelona and the Argentina National Team. Will the student surpass his master, or will Tata teach Masche another lesson?
Lionel Messi returns to Atlanta: Oct. 17 vs. Inter Miami CF (7:30 pm ET)
The Argentinian superstar is set to play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium once more as Atlanta United hosts Inter Miami in a late-season matchup.
After leading ‘La Albiceleste’ for what may be the final time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Messi will be looking to add an MLS Cup to his massive trophy cabinet. To do that, the Herons will have to finish the regular season strong, so they can ensure the best possible seeding going into the postseason.
Miguel Almirón, fresh off his World Cup campaign with Paraguay, and the rest of the Five Stripes’ roster will try to stop him in what should be an electrifying encounter.
Decision Day: Nov. 7 at New York Red Bulls (4 pm ET)
For its final regular season match of 2026, Atlanta United will return to New Jersey and attempt what it has failed to do in nine years: Win at Sports Illustrated Stadium (formerly Red Bull Arena).
The 2024 MLS Cup runner-up got solid production out of striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (17g/5a) in 2025, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the MLS Cup Playoffs. As both Atlanta United and the Red Bulls seek to claw their way back to the Eastern Conference elite, an exciting Decision Day matchup could be highly significant.
Marquee rivalry matches
Everyone loves a good rivalry game, so here are some to look forward to in 2026:
- Atlanta United vs. Nashville: April 18, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: May 16, 2026 | Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
- Charlotte FC vs. Atlanta United: July 22, 2026 | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Atlanta United vs. Charlotte FC: Aug. 29, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta United vs. Orlando City: Sept. 9, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Which matches are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.
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Not sure who is still checking in on this site.
But came across this post and it made me think of our inevitable succession plan for when Tata eventually leaves.
https://x.com/mlsmoves/status/1992992186028200278?s=46&t=IOiRvAG-rztwLV60J25_iA
Let’s start having the conversation now so we don’t end up with another Pineda – or worst, a Jim Curtin.
I think it depends on whether Tata has a successful return or not.
That is definitely something we will all be anxious to find out.
Jesper Sørensen, Javier Mascherano, Pascal Jansen, and even Mikey Varas does kind of show that past MLS is not needed to be successful as a first season coach in this league. It’s pretty remarkable really, and kind of dispels any truth to having that requirement when looking for another head coach.
Also interesting that the other coaches in the quarters were Eric Ramsey, Steve Cherundolo, Bradley Carnell, and Pat Noonan. All, but for the latter, were not necessarily lifelong MLS experts.
I believe the thinking that MLS has to be on the resume of our next coach is just flat out wrong. That kind of thinking got us, Gonzalo Pineda and Ronny Delia.
To be fair, Delia had success in MLS, which was seen as a positive.
I was definitely in that camp, but it proved to not guarantee success. That’s my point. MLS experience should not be a criteria moving forward.
Funny enough, Deila was successful in New York having had come into this league with no prior MLS experience.
To your point, have to add in that Tata was successful his first time around (playoffs first year, MLS Cup the second). Hopefully, if and when Tata decides to leave, the FO doesn’t eliminate candidates because of a “lack of MLS experience”.
Yes. Exactly.
Not sure why MLS didn’t “postpone” the July restart for 3 more days – since the World Cup doesn’t end until July 19th. Makes no sense at all.