Atlanta United forward Jamal Thiaré (center) celebrates after a goal during the first half of the Leagues Cup match against the Atlas at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
Atlanta United (5-13-16 overall in 2025) has released its 2026 preseason schedule. Along with a match at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the team will play several matches in Texas.
Last season, Atlanta United finished at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The story of the 2025 season will include injuries to key players, 16 losses, tough draws, and ultimately, a coaching change, as manager Ronny Deila was fired at the end of the season. Long-time goalkeeper and fan favorite, Brad Guzan, has also retired, while former manager Tata Martino was brought back to lead the club. Martino managed the club to a 2018 MLS Cup title and most recently managed Inter Miami FC before being fired.
Matt Edwards, 22, has started both games at right back for Atlanta United this season. A native of North Carolina, Edwards played 90 minutes in his first career start against CF Montreal and 72 minutes against Charlotte FC on Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The preseason will also provide an opportunity for some of the team’s young players, such as Matt Edwards and 21-year-old goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert, to continue their development.
The Five Stripes will begin the preseason on their training grounds on Friday, January 30. The opponent, Lexington SC, is a United Soccer League club out of Kentucky. The match will take place at 11 a.m.
Next on the schedule will be MLS opponent, the Houston Dynamo, on Saturday, February 7. That match will take place at 8 p.m. on the Dynamo’s home turf, the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
Atlanta United will remain in Texas, playing matches against Red Bull New York on Wednesday, February 11 (noon), and on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14 (1 p.m.). Both matches will take place at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (above) at the team’s training facility in Marietta, Friday, May 23, 2025. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The final match of the 2025 regular season took place on Saturday night. More specifically, it was the season’s final match for Atlanta United. This year will not end in an exciting playoff push or upset victory over Inter Miami and Leonel Messi. It will end in many “what ifs?” and coulda, woulda, shouldas.
The Five Stripes (5-12-16) came into Saturday’s match with D.C. United, the worst team in Major League Soccer according to its overall record (5-10-18), just two points ahead of the other United in the Eastern Conference standings.
Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan (above) during the match against D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
The match, the final one of goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s career, could not have begun better. Five Stripes captain, and along with Guzan, one of the most familiar faces in franchise history, Miguel Almiron, scored a goal in the third minute. The fact that Almiron scored the match’s first goal could be a positive sign for the future. The former Newcastle United man will be the focal point of the 2026 season. On the unassisted goal. Almiron took a rebound of an errant pass and put a low shot past the D.C. goalkeeper. He nearly scored another in the 18th minute on a cross, but was called offside. His energy throughout the match was reminiscent of the same energy level he had in the first match of the season.
The goal was Almiron’s sixth of the season to go along with a team-high seven assists. A solid season for any player, but the expectations for Almiron were so high upon his return that there was no way he could meet them if this team wasn’t successful.
Atlanta United midfielder Bartosz Slisz (above) dribbles the ball during the match against D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Matthew Dingle/Atlanta United
Many plays highlighted the victory over D.C. In the 26th minute, Bartosz Slisz blocked a potential D.C. shot that could have tied the game. Guzan saved a shot by D.C. striker Christian Benteke in the 41st minute and recorded another save in the 54th. Bouncing on his toes for the entire match, Guzan looked like he could play another couple of matches.
D.C. midfielder Gabriel Pirani scored an unassisted goal in the 66th minute to tie the game. Guzan saved another Benteke shot that bounced back to Pirani, who created his own shot thereafter.
D.C. midfielder Gabriel Pirani scored an unassisted goal in the 66th minute to tie the game. Guzan saved another Benteke shot that bounced back to Pirani, who created a shot for himself.
In the final 20 minutes of the match, Alexey Miranchuk, arguably the team’s best all-around player this season, and Luke Brennan, a rising star, were substituted for Jamal Thiare and Saba Lobjanidze in the 74th minute.
Four minutes of stoppage time were added to the clock at the end of 90 minutes. Atlanta attempted a shot-on-goal during that time, which was saved like every other shot they took after the game’s first two minutes.
Saturday’s attendance was announced as 44,098.
Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan #1, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and his family, before the match against D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
“That’s our story this year, we make things interesting,” said Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino during his postgame press conference. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta United had one opportunity to extend the 2024 season. One opportunity in front of the home fans to keep the dream alive. A 2-1 loss in Miami last week made Saturday’s match even more important than a playoff match already was.
With a minute remaining of the five minutes of stoppage time given at the end of the match, Xande Silva, a late-match substitution in this match, saved the day with his strike to the bottom right of the Inter Miami net. His goal gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead and new life.
Atlanta defender Derrick Williams headed in the tying goal early in the second half, his first as a member of the squad, in the 58th minute of the most important match of the season. Pedrio Almador’s pass found Williams and the majority of the crowd of 68,455, the fifth-highest attendance for a Major League Soccer playoff match, went wild. Whenever big clubs come to town there are always thousands of opponent jerseys in the stands, and Inter Miami has more than most whenever they play in Atlanta.
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute courtesy of a David Martinez goal that shouldn’t have even seen the light of day. An error by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan led to an opportunity for Martinez, a defender, to get a clear look at the goal from a few feet away.
Prior to Miami’s goal, there were several opportunities for Atlanta to take a much-needed early lead. Atlanta United dominated possession for several minutes resulting in three corner kicks, but no goals.
Inter Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino after the match. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
During the first half, Inter Miami held an advantage in possession (54.5%-45.5%) but Atlanta took one more shot-on-goal (5-4).
During the second half, Guzan saved a Luiz Suarez short kick from becoming the game-deciding goal. Messi scored what looked to be a second goal for Inter Miami, but he was offsides.
Asked about Williams’ efforts tonight, Valentino said the defender was a pleasure to coach and is a great teammate. “He’s a quiet leader, he leads by example, he’s not the one you see shouting and screaming,” Valentino said.
Atlanta United Forward Jamal Thiaré scored the game winning goal in the 97th minute, giving the Five Stripes a much-needed 2-1 victory over Toronto FC. Thiaré’s goal sent the crowd of 42,568 into delirium while securing the three points.
With the victory, Atlanta United is now two points out of seventh place.
“I wasn’t surprised, because I just had a feeling that the goalkeeper was going to put the ball down on the turf, and then I focused on making sure to do my job,” Thiaré said after the game.
The victory was the first for interim manager Rob Valentino. In his post-match remarks, Valentino admitted he’s never seen a contest end this way.
“That’s what we were joking about, exactly how we wanted it,” Valentino said. “I would say I’m on the younger side of coaching and the younger side of being in the game, but I have never seen anything like that. I made the joke to Dax [McCarty], after I ridiculously went sprinting down the sideline, that he has played 20 years now and I bet he has never seen a finish like that. It was incredible, bizarre, but I’m glad we’re on this side of it.”
Designated Players showed up tonight
Meanwhile, Thiago Almada scored his sixth goal of the season two minutes into first-half stoppage time. While rumors abound regarding Almada’s future in Atlanta, his performance throughout the match were of very high standard. He was proactive in the final third and was looking to create opportunities for himself and the fellow attackers.
Federico Bernardeschi quickly equalized for Toronto after the halftime break. He was assisted on the goal by fellow Italian, Lorenzo Insigne. The second half evolved into a cagey battle as both teams counterattacked and nearly scored potential game-winning goals.
In the end, it was Thiaré’s brilliance that broke the deadlock.
“I mean it will only help us in the best of ways,” says Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley. “I think we really needed that win. We go back on the road next week. So I think the boys are in pretty high spirits after this win and we’ll go to New England and try to do the same thing.”
Atlanta United’s next home match will be against New York City FC on July 17th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.
