MLS · Eastern Conference · Atlanta, Georgia, US · Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Born into a city that craved world-class soccer and immediately delivered record-shattering crowds, Atlanta United turned the American South into a fortress of tifo, thunderclaps, and the audacious belief that MLS could feel like the Bundesliga.
Updated March 16, 2026
Tata Martino is back in Atlanta, reprising the role that delivered MLS Cup in 2018. After leading Inter Miami to a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, the Argentine returns to a Five Stripes squad that skews younger and hungrier. His tactical acumen and experience managing stars make him the ideal choice to accelerate the rebuild. Whether the new faces can gel quickly under Martino's demanding system remains the defining question of the spring.
With Atlanta confirmed as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, the energy around the club has hit levels not seen since the 2018 championship run. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is set to host group-stage matches this summer, and the front office is leaning into that momentum with aggressive season-ticket campaigns and community programming designed to keep the building packed well after the tournament leaves town.
The departure of Thiago Almada to Lyon left a creative void that Atlanta is still trying to fill. The club's new DP signings will be measured against Almada's artistry whether that is fair or not. Early preseason suggests the attack will be more direct this year, built around transition speed rather than intricate buildup.