Football Season Guide

Atlanta United

In


Lucas Hoyos (gk) Newell’s Old Boys / Tomás Jacob (def) Necaxa / Elías Báez (def) San Lorenzo / Adrian Gill (mid) Barca Atletic /

Out


Brad Guzan (r) (gk) retired / Brooks Lennon (r) (def) contract ended / Bartosz Slisz (r) (mid) Brondby / Josh Cohen (gk) Chicago Fire / Jamal Thiaré (sp) (att) Columbus Crew / Leo Afonso (att) Rhode Island / Ashton Gordon (att) Chattanooga

The most disappointing team of 2025. Started the year as one of the big favourites in the East only to finish in the penultimate spot and with the equal-fewest wins 5 D16 L13. Despite having many impressive players in their ranks struggled in attack. The main victim of this dismal campaign was coach Delia. He was one-and-done. Sacked after the season. The ex-Mexico and Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino took charge. He is vastly experienced manager and the belief is he will make the star core of the team play much more efficient football. After a disastrous 2025 the Big 4 up front Latte Lath-Almiron-Miranchuk-Lobjanidze will hope to have much better 2026. On paper all of them are 10+ goal players and if Martino can get even half of them to that level Atlanta should be a team very hard to contain. Captain Guzan retired at the end of last season. Equally experienced Hoyos (36) has arrived to be the new number 1. Made aggressive moves to strengthen the very shaky defensive line too. Paid hefty fees to add CB Tomas Jacob and LB Elias Baez to the roster. Both are set to be used a lot. Both need to adapt to the MLS but the belief is that with them playing Atlanta’s defence will be stronger. Another CB Mihaj, joined only last September when all hope was already lost, also bring hope 2026 will be much better. On paper, just like last year, Atlanta have a squad capable of challenging for trophies. It remains to be seen how fast the new HC can transform the results.

Target


Target strong season. Anything but a top 6 finish in the Conference will be a disappointment.