Availability report and match preview: Rivalry U.S. Open Cup match on the horizon

After picking up a win for the first time in a run of matches, there's nobody happier to be playing again a couple days later than the 5-Stripes. 

Atlanta United didn't even have much time to ruminate over their 2-1 road win over Toronto FC Saturday. In fact, the team trained Sunday and Monday in preparation for their quickest turnaround of the season — just two full days of rest. It all leads up to a match that may demand the most, a rivalry bout with Charlotte FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET Tuesday night on CBS Sports Network and Paramount Plus, and now's a better time than ever for the 5-Stripes to build some momentum. 

"[The Toronto match] is a result we've been searching for now for some games," Martino said. "It shows that we're close. I think it will emotionally help us because it's good for the team to build belief in what we're doing. We have to understand what it means and not let it have too much importance."

Tomás Jacob back and other availability updates

New signing Tomás Jacob, brought it at the tail end of 2025, is back to health and eligible according to the club's availability report Monday. 

The rest of the injury list remains consistent with Friday's iteration, with one addition. Miguel Almirón is still nursing a knee injury, Sergio Santos working to recover from a calf issue and Steven Alzate is dealing with an adductor problem. Cayman Togashi is out for Tuesday's match after injuring his ankle during the weekend's match. He was forced off the pitch in the 

Head coach Tata Martino during media availability Monday said the training staff and Almirón are working together to see if the Paraguayan can be fit for Saturday's home match against CF Montréal.

Muyumba's mentorship in the midfield

Tristan Muyumba was the other 5-Stripe to speak to media after training Monday, fitting after his first goal of the 2026 season lifted Atlanta United to a win. 

The French midfielder is settling into the role as a No. 6. He said he feels like he's building the right habits to make an impact on matches. Even as the only true defensive midfielder in Martino's system, Muyumba still gave has the freedom to make runs forward into the attack.

"We have to find the right moment when we can make those kind of runs [into] the box, and also when we have to keep more balance," Muyumba said. "It's definitely something we need to bring more player in the last third of the pitch."

The 5-Stripes have been extra weary to not get hit on the counterattack in recent matches, but that sometimes comes at a cost to the attack. Without numbers forward, players run out of options to pass to. Muyumba mentioned that improved collective attitude amongst the midfielders, to be willing to get forward, and also shouted out that he knew the others would cover for him when he did. That trust is how a moment like Muyumba's goal happens. 

His two young partners in the middle of the park, Jay Fortune and Cooper Sanchez, both played equally pivotal roles in the result. Sanchez got the secondary assist for Muyumba's finish, and Fortune drew the foul that resulted in Alexey Miranchuk's free kick goal. 

Muyumba spoke about how he's felt a responsibility to mentor the younger players in his position group this year. 

"Those guys are my boys," Muyumba said. "In the locker room, I got Jay on my right, Will [Reilly] on my left, and now Cooper is next to Will. We have a beautiful relationship between each other. We talk a lot on the field, outside the field, even if it's not about football."

Atlanta United's midfielders are rounding into form at the right time, and they'll need to be on form against Charlotte to earn a result.

"The middle of the field is the heart of the team, and it's what modern football asks ... [Cooper and Jay], the truth is that they're two guys that have very important responsibilities for the team. There aren't many teams in the league that go into games with a midfield with two Academy kids whose average age is 20."

An old rivalry new to the knockouts

No introduction needed, Atlanta United vs Charlotte FC is always a battle. Now throw in the added element of knockout football, and we've got a recipe for a memorable match Tuesday night.

Charlotte comes into the match having defeated their neighbors Charlotte Independence in the Round of 32. On the same day, Wednesday, April 15, the 5-Stripes took down Chattanooga FC 3-1 to set up the rivalry match in the Round of 16.

The two sides have seen each other plenty of times in MLS play, but this will be the first time the two square off in a cup competition. 

Especially given the short rest for both teams, rotation may be expected. Charlotte fielded a lineup mostly made up of starters against Nashville SC Saturday, and the 5-Stripes did the same in Toronto. Still, with rivalry pride on the line, nothing is set in stone until the final whistle blows Tuesday night.

"We have a proposed way we want to play, but that doesn't mean we're going to resist other options," Martino said. "I think it's good that we have other options that we can go to without ever losing the identity of the style we want to play."