You can feel it when you walk toward the Benz. That hum of the MARTA train, the smell of street food, and the sea of red and black stripes. Honestly, following Atlanta United FC matches hasn’t been easy lately. We’ve had some rough stretches. But as we kick off 2026, things are shifting in a way that feels a lot like the early days of this club.
Tata Martino is back. Yeah, the man who led us to the 2018 MLS Cup is standing on the touchline again. It’s wild to think about how much has changed since he left, but his return has brought an immediate intensity to the training ground in Marietta. I was looking at the preseason notes from mid-January, and Miguel Almirón—who is also back, by the way—mentioned that the group feels "united" again. That's a big word for a team that struggled to find its identity for a few years.
The 2026 Schedule: Games You Can't Miss
The 2026 MLS season is a long haul. It officially gets moving for Atlanta on February 21 with a tough road trip to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. But let’s be real, the home opener is what we’re all waiting for.
Mark March 7 on your calendar. Real Salt Lake is coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first home match of the year. If you’ve never been to a home opener, the energy is basically unmatched. The club is even doing this "8-Match Plan" that includes the big ones like Inter Miami and the Charlotte rivalry.
Speaking of rivals, those matches are always the peak of the season. We’ve got Orlando City away on May 16, and then we host them at the Benz on September 9. The Charlotte FC matches are also heating up. We head to Bank of America Stadium on July 22, and they come to our house on August 29.
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Honestly, the match I’m most hyped for? October 17 against Inter Miami. Seeing Messi—or whoever they’ve got leading that squad by then—against a Tata Martino-led Atlanta side under the roof is going to be cinematic.
What’s different about the squad this year?
Roster turnover is just part of life in MLS, but Chris Henderson has been busy. We saw some big names leave recently. Bartosz Slisz moved over to Brøndby IF, and we said goodbye to Brad Guzan, who finally hung up the gloves. It’s weird not seeing Brad between the pipes, but the club brought in Lucas Hoyos, an experienced keeper from Argentina, to fill that void.
The attack looks lethal on paper. Having Almirón and Emmanuel Latte Lath for a full season together is huge. Last year, they were joined late and had to play catch-up. Now, they’ve had a full preseason. Latte Lath actually said something interesting recently about "suffering" through the 2025 season and how that taught the team what it takes to actually win in this league.
Key additions for 2026:
- Tomás Jacob: An Argentine defender who should steady the backline.
- Lucas Hoyos: The new veteran presence in goal.
- Santiago Pita: A homegrown midfielder with a lot of buzz around him.
We’re also keeping an eye on the No. 2 overall pick from the MLS SuperDraft. With a high selection like that, the expectations are that this kid contributes immediately.
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The Mercedes-Benz Stadium Experience
If you’re planning on attending any Atlanta United FC matches this season, you probably know the stadium is half the draw. It’s not just a soccer field; it’s a massive, retractable-roofed beast with a 360-degree video board they call the "Halo."
One thing people often get wrong is thinking every game is a sell-out with 70,000 people. Usually, for soccer, they use mechanized curtains to close off the upper deck, bringing capacity to around 42,500. This makes the atmosphere way more concentrated. They only open the full stadium for the massive matches, like when Miami comes to town or for the big Fourth of July celebrations.
The "Fan First" pricing is still a thing, too. You can actually get a hot dog and a soda without feeling like you need a small loan. It sounds like a small detail, but it really makes a difference when you’re taking a family.
How to actually get tickets
Look, don't wait until the day of the match. While you can sometimes find deals on SeatPick or Ticketmaster as kickoff approaches, the big games sell out fast.
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- Single Match Tickets: These went on sale back in December. If you're looking for cheap seats, the New England Revolution match on April 22 usually has some of the lowest prices, sometimes starting around $23.
- Multi-Match Packs: If you can't commit to a full season, the 8-match plan is the way to go. It secures your spot for the high-demand games like Charlotte and Inter Miami.
- The Supporters Section: This is behind the goal. It’s loud. There is smoke. You will stand the whole time. If you want to sit and chat, don't buy tickets in sections 101, 102, or 136.
Dealing with the Summer Heat
Atlanta in July is... a lot. The good news is the stadium is climate-controlled. Even when the roof is open, the design allows for decent airflow, but usually, if it's 95 degrees out, they keep that roof shut. If you're heading to an away match—like the one in Orlando on May 16—prepare for the humidity.
Why this season matters for the 5-Stripes
The front office knows the honeymoon phase is over. Fans in Atlanta are loyal, but they want results. We haven't been the "Kings of the South" for a minute. By bringing back Tata, the club is signaling a return to the "attack-first" philosophy that made everyone fall in love with the team in 2017.
Henderson mentioned in his end-of-season presser that teams weren't "afraid" to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium anymore. That’s the biggest goal for 2026: making Atlanta a fortress again.
Actionable next steps for fans:
- Sync your calendar: Download the official schedule to your phone so you don't miss those weird Wednesday night matches (we've got Nashville on April 18 and New England on April 22).
- Update your kit: The "Connector" kit is still the primary for this season, so if you haven't grabbed one, now's the time before the home opener.
- Check MARTA: If you're going to the Benz, take the train. Parking is a nightmare and costs more than the tickets sometimes. The stadium is right next to the GWCC/CNN Center and Vine City stations.
The road to the 2026 playoffs starts now. Whether we're lifting a trophy at the end of it or not, the ride with the 5-Stripes is never boring. See you at the Golden Spike.