Eight matches remain in Atlanta United’s 2026 season, if you can believe it. Five of those will be contested in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a home-loaded home stretch that the Five Stripes will be looking to use to their advantage in order to continue picking up points. Tonight, that run meets its next test against tenth place NYCFC.
Let’s begin with some head-to-head stats, courtesy of stats.scarvesandspikes.com:
Both sides find themsevles in a test of depth as the international break has taken a number of starting players from the roster. Atlanta have five on the availbility report, all due to international matches. Two other call-ups, Breel Embolo and Cooper Sanchez, will remain with the squad for this one. Tomas Jacob, who left the Portland match early with a muscle injury, is listed as available, a major boost to the backline.
If you thought that was bad, though, wait until you see NYCFC’s availability report:
That’s a whole 11 players listed as out between injury and international duty. You could trot a whole starting lineup out with the players New York City won’t be bringing to Atlanta. Not all are active starters, of course, but three players from last weeked’s 1-0 derby loss to Red Bull New York (Matt Freese, Tayvon Gray, and Aiden O’Neil) will all be absent this time.
This is the first meeting between the two sides this year, with the last meeting back in June of 2025, where the Pigeons broke out a 4-0 drubbing of Atlanta in Yankee Stadium. Mateusz Klich started that match, in case you need a frame of reference for how long ago that was. Abram and Cobb came off the bench for Atlanta way back then.
It’s an almost completely new roster now, and the aformentioned absences make this one even more unpredictable. For the Five Stripes, keep an eye on a backline that has kept two consecutive clean sheets, but is now missing the primary center back duo of Junior Alonso and Paulo Diaz. There’s also just one true winger remaining, that being Luke Brennan.
Three players from the playoff bound Atlanta United 2 squad have been signed to short-term agreements to make up the losses: center backs Daniel Chica and Matthew Senanou, and MLS Next Pro Playmaker of the Year Cameron Dunbar, who can provide an attacking threat on the wing.
Before kickoff rolls around, be sure to check out our Q&A with Andrew Leigh from New York Soccer Journal.
Atlanta United vs. NYCFC: Q&A with NY Soccer Journal
Andrew Leigh gives us a look at NYCFC ahead of Atlanta United’s match against the Pigeons on Saturday.
Tonight’s match is set for a 7:40 PM ET kickoff tonight in the Benz, with streaming available through Apple TV. If audio is more your vibe, 92.9 The Game has your English language coverage, while La Mejor is your go-to for Spanish radio.
No matter where you are, or how things look on the pitch, feel free to chime in on the match down below in our match thread as the Five Stripes go again in the Benz.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
New York City FC’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff Time: Saturday, September 26th, 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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Embolo looked like a freight train there. Reminds me of Haaland vs Iraq in the World Cup 😂
What a Fortunate goal! Good play though, and I love fortune’s vision that led to the cross and goal
Twice we have failed to mark on crosses. Lazy defense and failure to get back. We have zero counter attacking this evening. Looks like a repeat of earlier this season. I know we have many players out but that’s no excuse for not being aggressive .
Literally was tracking the guy for a good 10 seconds and saw no one pick him up at all. No surprise that the goal happened.
Uh oh
This ref is a clown
Brennan’s positioning is driving me crazy. He keeps cutting inside, too close to either Embolo or the midfielders, meanwhile that outside right wing is often empty. He’s also constantly missing his defensive mark, putting Edwards on an island.
Genuinely hate the Apple camera work. They show Tata laughing while there’s a fight…
How is two arms around Amaro not a foul?
Two crappy goals. We are now even lol.
At least we’re not the only ones making dumb mistakes
That was poor defending by the outside backs, Baez for letting the cross come in too easily, and Edwards for a horrible touch. I don’t know what he was trying to do then.
Edwards did not mark at all. He was lazy on that goal.
So far he looks very out of sorts
having a 2nd true CB might have helped there…
They just sliced us apart like it was nothing.
Gotta love some early energy
Decent lineup considering the circumstances. VAMOS
so we are back to playing with just one true CB again…great…
To be fair, I think Jacob has the pedigree to count as a true CB as well, he just has versatility to be elsewhere.
I almost forgot about Klich. Not that things are all that peachy now, but at least there’s hope. Those were some really dark times in 2025.
The backline is relatively straightforward: Baez, Mihaj, Jacob, Edwards. No backups though.
Not sure what they do to replace Almiron and Miranchuk though. Brennan is likely option for one of them, but I guess otherwise we pull one of the many CMs we have to play as an AM? Maybe:
Brennan – Embolo – Cooper
Muyumba – Galoppo (I want Fortune, but you know he’ll probably play these guys)
Amaro (again I want Gill, but you know)
Baez – Mihaj – Jacob – Edwards
Hoyos
You got it right lol