The Playoff Hunt
A star to guide us and a movement behind us. Atlanta United is ready to conquer. After the international break, the Five Stripes are right back in action with 5 matches in 15 days, starting with a return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the Columbus Crew. Then it's off to Cincinnati, back home to face San Jose, up to the Bronx in a major Eastern Conference matchup to face NCYFC, then off to Montreal to face the Impact. They have two trophies in the cabinet already, but these are crucial matches to clinch a postseason spot –– and hopefully home field advantage once they get there.
9/14 - vs Columbus Crew | Get your tickets now
9/18 - @ FC Cincinnati | Watch at an official Pub Partner
9/21 - vs San Jose Earthquakes | Buy Tickets Now
9/25 - @ NYCFC | Watch at an official Pub Partner
9/29 - @ Montreal Impact | Watch at an official Pub Partner
Clinch Scenarios
With so much on the line over the next month, fans will be crunching the numbers for different playoff scenarios –– will Atlanta United secure a playoff birth? Could they get home field advantage or a first-round bye? Here's what we know so far:
Clinching a playoff berth
Atlanta United control their own destiny, and could clinch their spot in the postseason as early as their next match. It's this simple: if Atlanta United beat the Columbus Crew on September 14th at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they've clinched a spot in the postseason. If they don't, they can still get in if Orlando City AND the Montreal Impact drop any points before that time.
Clinching home-field advantage
Clinching home field advantage is still a little more up in the air. With NYCFC and the Philadelphia Union both fighting with the Five Stripes down to the wire, clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with the top seed could go down to the last match of the season, on October 6th versus the New England Revolution. Clinching a home playoff game for at least one match could come as early as September 18th, with multiple scenarios still in play for that. Stay tuned to Atlanta United's social media channels for all the different situations for that.
We do know the dates for the playoff matches coming up, with the entire schedule released by Major League Soccer last week. Here's how it looks:
In short: every match is critical for the home stretch of the season as Atlanta United fights for postseason positioning. You will not want to miss a moment of the home stretch of the regular season.
