Coming from the high that was the Summer of Soccer, Atlanta is brimming with footy fandom. And finally, after 98 days away, the city will get to welcome its squad back to the A.
Atlanta United faces Red Bull New York at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Emphasis on the last few words. The 5-Stripes are home for the beautiful game for the first time since the MLS break for the FIFA 2026 World Cup™. You can grab tickets to welcome Atlanta United back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium here.
For head coach Tata Martino and his team, Saturday night will be a reintroduction, one where they'll look to remind their fans of the football they can play when things are clicking. The 5-Stripes have had a weekend break for international matches after a tough spell of away matches leading up to their battle with the Red Bulls. They're fresh and hungry to turn the tides on a season that is still up for the taking.
"It's something we've been looking for since the start of the season. It's the greatest search a team has, that the fans feel represented," Martino said in Spanish Friday. "At some points of this season, we did that, [but] for the better part of it we haven't. We need to return trying so the people understand that we're concerned with offering them a team that represents them well."
New faces to make their first impressions at home
Atlanta United made defensive additions in the Secondary Transfer Window this summer, center backs Júnior Alonso and Paulo Díaz. The two will have the chance to make their home debuts Saturday night, with Díaz potentially playing in his first match for the 5-Stripes after sorting out his visa.
Alonso and Díaz bring decades of experience and continue to establish a Latin American identity in the squad, something Martino spoke about when he rejoined the club. The Chilean Díaz is one of the latest in a string of signings hailing from and having immense experience in South America.
"Paulo's been training well," Alonso said in Spanish Tuesday. "... Individually, he's prepared himself very well, and he's a player who we know is going to help the team."
Midfield signing Mauricio Amaro, announced last Friday, will be the next to enter the fold — though the club listed him as unavailable for the Red Bulls match on Friday's availability report due to the visa process. Still, the center back duo has a chance to start Saturday's match together in what would be a first for the 5-Stripes.
Alonso and Díaz very well may be tasked with showing defensive improvement Saturday. Atlanta United comes into the match having given up multiple goals in each of their last three matches.
Alonso spoke Tuesday about moments of disorganization and how his defensive line can respond in moments of opposing pressure. In his first couple of games in MLS play, he said he's noticed an emphasis on defending in transition moments. The Paraguayan has noticed, however, a collective understanding within the squad — they can be better.
"The good thing is for us, the players who are here, we all have the same mentality," Alonso said. "We know we're in a difficult situation, but we want to help the club and get out of it."
Potential for fireworks
A matchup with the Red Bulls should be an explosive one. Saturday's visitors are in a Wildcard Playoff spot, but they're the only team in the top eight of the Eastern Conference with a negative goal difference. New York have had some jarring results along the way, a 6-1 loss, a 4-4 draw, a 4-2 win and a fair few more high scoring affairs. The Red Bulls have had just one match all season end with just one goal being scored.
So, turn your eyes forward for Saturday's match. New York brings firepower up front with Cade Cowell and Emil Forsberg assisting Jorge Ruvalcaba and 18-year-old MLS All Star Julian Hall.
For Atlanta, the departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath on loan to Union Berlin means the 5-Stripes will likely continue to lean on Miguel Almirón and Alexey Miranchuk up front. The former, Atlanta United's captain and number 10, has scored in three consecutive matches heading into Saturday. Miranchuk, on the other hand, leads the 5-Stripes in goals and assists this season.
Against a Red Bulls team willing to press, Miranchuk's maneuvering on the ball could play an important role in buildup.
"It's really about the opposite movement and [makings] two movements, not just one movement, because for defenders, fake movements and go other ways are really tough to catch," Miranchuk said Friday. "... I think I can find the space even with the defender on my back."
Where Almirón and Miranchuk play in the front three is certainly more fluid these days. Veteran Fafa Picault has taken more of the third-attacker minutes since the return from the break. Luke Brennan, the Homegrown who spoke to media Tuesday, has also gotten some run. Martino said he and his staff are tasked with giving his players the answers to different questions Red Bulls may ask of them.
"First, to not get away from the style that we as Atlanta want to play," Martino said. "[We also want] to give our players the tools to be able to solve those moments in the game."
Restablishing the fortress
Atlanta United's best performances this season have been at home. The Philadelphia and Montréal matches saw the 5-Stripes playing the attacking, protagonist football Martino has wanted for his side. But much has changed since those wins, and Saturday will be a new test.
Brennan knows what kind of energy MBS can provide, and he and the rest of the 5-Stripes are raring to get back out in front of the 17s.
"I think our fans are probably one of the best in the league, if not the best in the league," Brennan said. "It always helps being back at the Benz. I know I’m super excited to be back home.”
