Atlanta United 2 announces 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season schedule

Atlanta United 2 today announced its 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season schedule. The team will feature in 28 matches and is set to host 14 home contests at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, which will continue as the team’s home venue. Atlanta United 2 will kick off its second season in MLS NEXT Pro at home on Saturday, March 16 at 3:00 p.m. against Orlando City B.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, February 19. Season, multi-match, family packs and single match tickets will all be available.

With the addition of two new independent clubs to the League, the Eastern Conference will feature updated divisions in 2024. Atlanta will compete in the Southeast Division, the former Central Division, which will include both independent clubs, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC. FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 2 and Chicago Fire FC II will move from the Central Division (now Southeast Division) to the Northeast Division.

Seven of Atlanta’s first nine matches will be played at home this season, headlined by a three- match homestand in mid-April which features Philadelphia Union II (April 14), Chattanooga FC (April 17) and FC Cincinnati 2 (April 21).

The team will play five of six matches on the road during June and July. ATL UTD 2 will play three consecutive away matches against Orlando City B (June 26), Inter Miami CF II (June 30) and New York Red Bulls II (July 7). The lone home contest through this stretch features 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup runner-up Columbus Crew 2 on July 14 before the squad hits the road again to face Crown Legacy FC (July 21) and Huntsville City FC (July 27).

The 28-match regular season schedule concludes in September when Atlanta United 2 hosts Huntsville City FC on Sept. 15 and Inter Miami CF II on Sept. 24 before traveling to face Philadelphia Union II in the regular season finale on Sept. 29.

Head coach Steve Cooke returns for his second year on the sideline after coaching his squad to an 11-17 record in 2023. In his first season at the helm, Cooke helped develop multiple talents

that now appear on Atlanta United’s First Team squad, including Nick Firmino, who was named to the MLS NEXT Pro Best XI after finishing with a single-season club record 16 goals while his combined 22 goals and assists tied him for second in MLS NEXT Pro. ATL UTD 2’s 2024 roster features a slew of new faces, including 2024 MLS SuperDraft picks Jayden Hibbert and Javier Armas, as well as returning talents Matías Gallardo and Alan Carleton.

The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will feature the return of the “pick-your-opponent” format that debuted during the 2023 postseason and quickly garnered widespread attention. This year will feature more teams qualifying for the playoffs, more teams making selections and more knockout matches being played.

Eight teams will qualify for the playoffs from each conference (16 total), with Seeds No. 1-4 in each conference hosting and selecting their opponents in the first round. In the second round, the highest remaining seed in each conference will select an opponent from any of the remaining three teams.

Fans can catch a majority of Atlanta United 2’s regular season campaign, plus all Decision Day matches, playoff matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup live or on-demand through MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. The remainder of regular season matches will air on mlsnextpro.com. Further broadcast details will be announced at a later date.