Atlanta United vs New York City: Match Thread and How to Watch

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.

by Sydney Hunte September 25, 2026September 25, 2026

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:

TBA

New York City FC’s Lineup:

TBA

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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